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FEMALE EDUCATION, 

COMPRISING THE 

FE <D SECOND SERIES 

it 

I OF A COURSE 

DeVweved to Mrs. Gavnett's Pupils, 

AT ELM- WOOD, ESSEX COUNTY, VIRGINIA. 



BY JAMES M. GARNETT. 

V — — 

TO WHICH IS ANNEXED, 

THE GOSS\P'S MAKITAL. 



THIRD EDITION, 

WITH CORBECTMWS AND ADDITIONS BY THE AUTHOH . 




RICHMOND I ^ 

PRINTED \ND PUBLISHED BY THOMAS W. WHITE, 
SOLE PROPRIETOR OP THE COPYRIGHT. 

1825. 



to ^ 



DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA, to wit : 

Be it remembered, that on the twenty- 
******* f- Mirth day of May, in the forty-ninth 
* lj s * vear of the Independence of the United 
******* states of America, THOMAS \V. WHITE, 
of the said District, hath deposited in this office 
the title of a book, the right whereof he claims 
as proprietor, in the words following, to wit: 

"Lectures on Female Education, comprising- the first 
and second series of a course delivered to Jlfrs. Gar~ 
nett's Pupils, at Elm-Wood, Essex County, Virginia. — 
By James M Garrett. — To lohich is annexed, the 
Gossip's Manual. — Third Edition, with corrections and 
additions by the Author" 

In conformity to ihe act of the Congress of the 
United States, entiled "An act for the encourage- 
ment of learning, by securing the copies of maps, 
charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of 
such copies, during the times therein mentioned " 

RD JEFFRIES. 
Clerk of the District of Virginia* 



p 

EDITOR'S PREFACE. 

From the rapid sale of the two first editions 
of the following Lectures, the editor is en- 
couraged to hope that a third will also prove 
acceptable to the publick. To accomplish 
this on his part, nothing within the compass 
of his means has been neglected, so far as 
regards paper, type, and binding. The whole 
work, at his solicitation, has also been again 
revised by the author, and several corrections 
made. 

The editor confidently trusts, that to those 
who have not read this little work, the ap- 
probatory letters which he has annexed, from 
some of the most distinguished and estimable 
men in the United States, will highly recom- 
mend it; as their sanction affords the best pre- 
sumptive evidence, that none who purchase 
these Lectures will be likely to repent their 
bargain. In thus introducing the work to 



4 Editor's Preface. 

the patronage of the publick, the editor will 
not pretend to an entire exemption from per- 
sonal and selfish motives : For althougl^his 
own interest in the sale of this edition, may be 
thought too strong to leave his judgment to 
act impartially, in deciding on the merits of 
this little book; yet no obstacle of this kind 
could possibly have influenced those justly 
celebrated men who have already spoken of it 
with such unqualified praise. Upon their 
opinions therefore, he may safely rely, as valid 
proofs of the correctness of his own; and 
thus supported, he once more comes before 
the publick, full of hope, that they will most 
willingly contribute to promote his own indi- 
vidual advantage, in consideration of the ser- 
vices which he is about to render, by this edi- 
tion of the Lectures, to all who are, in any 
way, interested in the all-important cause of 
Female Education. 

This third edition is enlarged by four ad- 
ditional Lectures, which, as the editor is as- 
sured, complete the author's entire course. 
The sole copy-right to these, as well as the 



Editor's Preface, £ 

former, he has presented to the editor, without 
retaining any pecuniary interest whatever, in 
either edition. 

For one mistake in arranging the different 
parts of the last edition, which is corrected 
in the present, I owe an apology to the publick. 
It will be perceived by the close of the author's 
preface, that the "Gossip's Manual" was de- 
signed to come in after the Lectures ; but from 
inadvertence on my part, it was placed before 
them. 

A farther explanation perhaps is due, in re- 
gard to another small change made by the 
editor. Those who have perused the second 
edition, must have observed that the term 
"Preface" was prefixed by the author, to his 
remarks preceding the Lectures. For this, the 
following title has been substituted, as some- 
what more appropriate : " Introductory Re- 
marks on some of the Chief Obstacles to 
Education." 

T. W. WHITE, Editor and Pub- 
lisher of Garnetfs Lectures* 

May 27th, 1825. 

OF 
1* 



•'"■ 






m 



m 



COMMENDATORY LETTERS, 
ON JAMKS M. GARNETT'S LECTURES. 

The Jrst is a letter from JOHN MARSHALL, Esq. 

Chief Justice of the United States. 

The second, is from Mr. LEROY ANDERSON, long 
and well known, as the much esteemed Principal of an 
Academy, first established in Williamsburg, and then 
transferred to this city. 

The third, is from the Rev. WM. J. ARMSTRONG, 

Pastor of the 1st Presbyterian Church in Richmond, a 
gentleman not less highly valued for his talents as a 
preacher, than reverenced for his piety and learning as 
a man. 

The fourth* is from the Right Rev. RICHARD CHAN- 
NING MOORE, the venerable and much-esteemed 
Bishop of the Diocese of Virginia. 

The//^,isfrom DE WITT CLINTON, Esq. the pre- 
sent Governour of the State of New-York, a gentleman 
alike celebrated for his talents as a statesman, and his 
acquirements as a scholar. 

The sixth, is from the Revd. JOHN H. RICE, Presi- 
dent of the Theological Seminary, in Prince-Edward, 
and a minister of the Presbyterian Church, long distin- 
guished for his piety and learning. 

The seventh, is from the Rev. FREDERIC BEASLEY, 
the present Provost of the College of Philadelphia, and 
a clergyman of the Protestant Episcopal Church, uni- 
versally esteemed by all who icnow him; and who is him- 
self a bright example of the faith he preaches. 

The eighth, is from WILLIAM WTRT, Esq. the pre- 
sent Attorney. -General of the United States, whose re- 
putation as a jurist and an author stands deservedly 
high throughout America. 



S Letters to the Publisher. 

Richmond, Nov. 29th, 1824. 
Mr. T. W. White. 

Beau Sir, 

I have received the volume of Mr. Ganiett's 
Lectures with which you favoured me, and have de- 
voted the first leisure time I could well spare to its 
perusal. I had read the 1st edition of this little work 
when first published, and was so well pleased with it as 
to place it in the hands of several of my young- friends 
for whose improvement I was particularly solicitous. 

The subject is, in my opinion, of the deepest inter- 
est. I have always believed that national character, as 
well as happiness, depends more on the female part of 
society than is generally imagined. Precepts from the 
lips of a beloved mother, inculcated in the amiable, 
graceful, and affectionate manner which belongs to the 
parent and the sex, sink deep in the heart, and make an 
impression which is seldom entirely effaced. These 
impressions have an influence on character which may 
contribute greatly to the happiness or misery, the emi«. 
nence or insignificancy of the individual. 

If the agency of the mother informing' the charac* 
ter of her children is, in truth, so considerable as I think 
it, — if she does so much towards making her son what 
she would Wish him to be, — and her daughter to resem- 
ble herself, — how essential is it that she should be fitted 
for the beneficial performance of these important duties. 

To accomplish this beneficial purpose is the object 
of Mr. Garwtt's Lectures; and he has done much towards 
its attainment. His precepts appear to be drawn from 
deep and accurate observation of human life and man- 
ners, and to be admirably well calculated to improve 
the understanding, and the heart. They form a sure 
and safe foundation for female character: and contain 
rules of conduct which cannot be too well considered, 
or too generally applied. They are communicated too 
with a sprightliness of style and agreeabieness of man- 
ner which cannot fail to insure a favourable reception to 
the instruction they convey. 

I am, Sir, very respectfully, your obedient 

JOHN MARSHALL. 



Letters to the Publisher, 9 

Richmond, Nov. 29, 1824. 
Mr T. W. WJdte. 
Dear Sir, 
I avail myself of the first opportunity that has of- 
fered, to acknowledge the receipt of your second edition 
of Mr. Garnett's Lectures, inscribed to the young ladies of 
Mrs. Garnett's school. Having been pleased with the 
perusal of this little work on its first appearance, and 
having before pubhckly expressed my favourable opin- 
ion, 1 am much gratified to see that you have, so early, 
been encouraged to give a second edition. 

Upon looking into its pages. I find that the book has 
been enriched by the author with an admirable preface, 
in which he has, in a manner that does equal credit to 
his head and his heart, unfolded some new and impres- 
sive views of that most important of all subjects, the 
domcstick and school instruction of the rising genera- 
tion. 

It were a compliment to myself to say that I fully 
concur with the writer; but I most earnestly recom- 
mend to every parent and teacher, a serious perusal of 
this part of the volume. Concisely stated as they are, 
the observations of the author, will be admitted, by all 
who take an interest in cultivating the hearts as well as 
the minds of children, to contain matter worthy of the 
gravest consideration ; and I wish every family in the 
state where those "Heaven-bestowed sources of feli- 
city" (as the author justly terms children) are to be 
found, could obtain a copy of this little book. 

What the author styles, "The Gossip's Manual," is 
another valuable accession to the present edition, and 
exposes in a keen and forcible, though very amusing 1 
way, one of the greatest pests of society. 

I am, Sir, very respectf'ullv, vour ob't serv't 

LEllOY ANDERSON. 
— @©©— 

Richmond, Dec. 3, 1824, 
Mr. T. TV. White, 
Dear Sin. — I have attentively read the second edition 
ofr'Lecturen addressed to Mrs. Garnett's pupils," &c of 



10 Letters to the Publisher. 

which you were so obliging" as to send me a copy. It 
gives me pleasure to thank you for the favour, and to 
express the satisfaction lhave received from a perusal 
of the work. Though so brief and compendious as 
necessarily to exclude many points, which, under other 
circumstances, might with propriety have been noticed 
in a work of the kind; yet the author has compressed 
into this little volume, much interesting and valuable 
instruction. The tcpicks he discusses are unquestion- 
ably of the utmost importance, and they are treated in 
a plain, distinct and impressive manner. Much good 
sense, clear discernment, and just observation of men 
and things, are displayed in the discussion ; combined 
with an extensive acquaintance with society as it is; 
correct notions of character as it should be ; and an 
ardent desire to promote the best interests of those for 
whose immediate benefit the author wrote. One might 
wish he had been move explicit and full on the subject 
of religious obligation, and the peculiar motives to the 
performance of duty which revelation presents; yet 
even on these topicks there is, so far as he goes, much to ap- 
piiove. On the whole, the work seems well adapted 
to be useful to young persons of both sexes, and es- 
pecially to young ladies; and I rejoice that you have 
found encouragement for so speedy a publication of a 
second edition. 

Wishing you all the success which the value of 
the work and your exertions merit, 

1 am, very respectfully, yours, &c. 

WM. J. ARMSTRONG. 

— ©*©© — 

Richmond, Dec. 13, 1824. 
Mr. Thomas W. White, 

Dear Sin, 

The influence of the female character upon 
the minds of our sex is universally acknowledged : 
every effort therefore which has a tendency to extend 
their information, and to increase their moral power, 



Letters to the Publisher, 1 1 

must meet with the approbation of the virtuous ; and is 
entitled to the grateful thanks of the community. 

I have frequently expressed the opinion, that 
it rests very much with well educated and religi- 
ous women, to check in their progress those errors in 
our sex, which frequently destroy the comfort of so- 
ciety ; and to give that tone to publick morals, so ne- 
cessary to the happiness of mankind. 

The moment, in which they can be persuaded 
to exercise that influence which Heaven has given 
them ; and to take that elevated ground, to which the 
purity of their lives, and the improvement of their 
minds entitle them ; the moment in which they shall 
mark with pointed disapprobation, every aberration 
from propriety in those, who court their society and 
expect their smiles, our sons will see the necessity of 
conforming to their requisitions — they will so regulate 
their conduct as to gladden the hearts of their parents ; 
secure dignity to their characters, and establish their 
present and future peace. 

The Lectures of Mr. Garnett breathe a spirit of 
christian purity. They point out to females the high 
road to character and distinction, and the more they are 
studied the more will they be esteemed. 

Should the lessons they inculcate be duly im- 
proved, the young ladies will leave the seminary in 
which they have been educated, a comfort to their pa- 
rents, and an honour to their teachers. They will be 
prepared for the exercise of those duties, which will 
render them the benefactors of the human family; 
burning and shining lights in the Church of God; and 
a blessing to those, with whom they may be connect- 
ed in life. 

You have my best wishes, that the second edi- 
tion of the Lectures alluded to, may meet with that 
encouragement, to which their great merit entitles 
them 

T remain, dear sir, your friend, and ob't serv't 

RICHARD CHANNING MOORE, 



12 Letters to the Publisher. 

Albany, 3lst Jan. 1825. 
Mr. Thomas TV. White. 
Dear Srn, 
Previous to the receipt of Mr. Garnettfs Lectures 
on Female Education, which you were so kind as to trans- 
mit to me, I had heard of the work, and was desirous 
to obtain it, My expectations have not been disap- 
pointed in the perusal. In reference either to diction 
or sentiment, to manner or matter, it is a production of 
extraordinary merit, and ought to be generally diffused. 
The writer has, with great ability, inculcated 
the importance of Female Education, and pointed 
out the most advisable means of elevating the female 
character. Our first and most lasting impressions and 
ideas are derived from maternal solicitude and su- 
perintendence ; and the felicitous influence of Female 
Fiducation, is not only feit in the domestic circle, but 
in all points connected with individual happiness and 
social prosperity. 

lhave the honour to be, very respectfully, 
Your most obedient servant, 

DE WITT CLINTON. 

Theological Seminary, 

Prince-Edward, 5th Feb. 1825. 
Mr. T. W. White. 
My Dear Sir, 

1 received, some weeks ago, a very handsome 
copy of Garnet? s Lectures, for which I return you thanks 
not the less sincere on account of the delay in expres- 
sing them. 

This little work does not need my name to recom- 
mend it, after having received the testimonials which 
you have already published. 

But I must be permitted to say, that I rejoice in the 
attention now given to female education, and in the 
interest which valuable publications en that subject, 
appears to excite. It is to be hoped that increa-ed 
and enlightened zeal in the present, and succeeding 
generations, will do away the evils of past negligence ; 



Letters to the Publisher. 13 

that the wide circulation of Mr. Garnett's little manual, 
will prepare the way for more extensive and elaborate 
treatises; and that the time will come when every 
class of society will feel the salutary influences of 
ivoma.ii's kindness combined with a cultivated taste and 
high intellectual improvement. 

Allow me to add, that in my judgment, every well 
conducted female academy is a publick blessing; the 
principals of which, deserve well of their country. 

With best wishes for your success, I am, &c. 

JOHN H. RICE. 
— Q*©^— 

Philadelphia, April 1, 1825. 
Mr. T. W. White. 
Dear Sir, 

I thank you for the copy of Mr. Garnett's Lec- 
tures, with which you have been good enough to fa- 
vour me. Before the receipt of your favour, I had 
purchased and read the work, with great satisfaction ; 
and had taken some pains to introduce it to the notice 
of my friends and acquaintances. I cannot express in 
too strong terms my approbation of it. In a most mas- 
terly and agreeable manner, it treats one of the most 
importantsubjects that can occupy the attention of the 
human mind. Mr. Garnett looks around upon the pe- 
culiar manners of his own country with the eye of a 
sage, and suits his maxims to them. His style is easy, 
sprightly, and elegant, and every lecture pregnant with 
impressive and useful lessons It is my intent to ren- 
der my daughters familiar with this work; and I trust, 
that every other parent who has a family of females 
around him will do the same. I have never met with 
any performance upon this subject, which so entirely 
meets my views ; and is so well calculated, to form the 
manners, rectify the principles, and improve the under- 
standings and moral feelings of our females. 
I remain, respectfullv, your ob't servant, 

FREDERIC BEASI.EY. 



14 Letters to the Publisher. 

Washistgtos-, April 26, 1825. 

Mr. Thomas W. White. 

Dear Sir, 

I am sorry that my engagements have kept 
me so long 1 from the perusal of Mr. Garnett's Lectures on 
Female Education which you were so obliging as to send 
me. The work is, in my opinion, an excellent one and 
is calculated to do much good. The topicks are well 
selected and are treated with vigour and judgment. 
The precepts of morality and religion which it incul- 
cates are, every where, sound ; and the objects of pur- 
suit and principles of action which it recommends are 
pure and solid. The style is good. The language is,per- 
haps, sometimes a little too familiar for the refinement 
of the age, but, upon the whole, it is well suited to con- 
vey and impress the good advice which the work con- 
tains ; and the lectures are written, throughout, with a 
parental warmth and earnestness which, 1 should think, 
would awaken a strong interest in the minds of those 
for whose use they are intended. 

The Gossip's Manual, to which you call my attention, 
is a good piece of irony in the manner of Swift, levelled 
at a habit which, it is to be hoped, is less prevalent at 
this day than it seems to have been in the reign of Queen 
Anne, but which is so vicious and barbarous that a cor- 
rect mind cannot fail to be pleased with any effort at its 
entire extirpation. 

Upon the whole this little book is one which every 
parent may well be gratified to see in a daughter's 
hands — For there is no moral poison any where hidden 
under insidious amusement. All is sound and whole- 
some. No frivolous accomplishments, nor superficial 
and showy attainments are recommended to the culti- 
vation of the youthful reader ; but the work has the 
rare merit of inculcating, in strong and persuasive lan- 
guage, the subservience of the Graces themselves to 
the useful purposes of life ; the deep reality of excel- 
lence, as contradistinguished from the appearance, the 



Letters to the Publisher. 15 

being good as well as elegant, instead of merely seem- 
ing so. 

Under this impression of the work I should be glad 
to see it in extensive circulation and should hail it as an, 
omen of good to that sex on whose direction man so 
much depends for the first and strongest impulses of 
his character. 

I remain, Sir, with respect, your obedient serv't, 

WILUAM WIRT. 



xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx: 
Introductory Hemavks 



ON SOME OF 



THE CHIEF OBSTACLES 



TO 



EDUCATION. 



INTRODUCTORY REMARKS 

OK SOME OF THE 

Chief Obstacles to Education, 



The first destination of the following 
Lectures having been materially changed by 
the determination of the present proprietor 
of the copy-right to publish a second edition, 
some prefatory account of the circumstances 
which produced the first, seems due to those 
to whom the last is now offered. 

But previous to this detail, the Author 
deems it not irrelevant to his final purpose, 
to take a brief view of the various obstacles 
which, in our present state of society, ap- 
pear to him to impede the adoption and prac- 
tice of correct principles of Education, — 
particularly in regard to Females. He will 
also endeavour to expose the highly perni- 
cious influence of these impediments; and if 
possible to call the publick attention to the 
substitution of better methods, than most of 



22 Introductory Remarks, fyc. 

those which are still too prevalent among us. 
Many of these obstacles, and the most for- 
midable of the whole, arise from the bad 
principles, opinions, and habits, fixed in the 
tender minds of children; even before they 
leave that domestick sanctuary wherein they 
should not be suffered, if possible, either 
to see, or to hear, the slightest thing that 
could pervert their understandings, or cor- 
rupt their hearts. The faculties of the one, 
and the feelings of the other, begin to exert 
themselves at a much earlier period of life, 
than many imagine; and it depends al- 
most entirely upon the first means used to 
develope them, and the first examples pre- 
sented for their imitation, whether these hea- 
ven-bestowed sources of felicity are not so 
poisoned, as to mar every hope both of pre- 
sent and future happiness. To women, in 
almost all cases, is confided, — or rather, left, 
this most momentous duty of early develope- 
ment. They are our first, and often only 
teachers : and to them we are all indebted 
for our rudiments of science, of morals, and 



Introductory Remarks, fyc. 23 

of religion. How incalculably important 
then, is it, that they should be well quali- 
fied for their arduous task? And how im- 
practicable is this, if the utmost caution and 
pains are not continually taken, sedulously 
to guard against every avoidable error in 
the little education, which in general, they 
are permitted to receive? But for these early 
habits, opinions, and principles, — which may 
properly be called nursery infections, I have 
always thought that the subsequent efforts to 
educate young people would be much more 
successful, than they usually are. If husbands 
and wives will live in that sort of amity 
which generally prevails between cats and 
dogs, they must expect that their daughters 
will play the cat too, whenever they have 
opportunities. If mothers and nurses will 
scold, and hector, and storm, and rave, and 
fall into fits of "the sullens," (a very malig- 
nant disease, by the way,) either with, or 
without any colour of excuse, the children 
under their management will certainly imi- 
tate their example. In short, if those who 
4* 



24 Introductory Remarks, fyc. 

have the early direction of children, — whe- 
ther parents or guardians, nurses or teach- 
ers; habitually give way to any fault or vice 
whatever, the helpless objects of their super- 
intendance, will almost as surely contract 
them, as they will take the small-pox, if ex- 
posed to its contagion. 

Why do we ever see the poor little inno- 
cents of the nursery practising in miniature, 
all the airs of grown coquettes, evenbeforethe 
lisping accents of infancy have worn off their 
tongues? It is because they have been ino- 
culated by the time they could speak, with 
the passion for finery, and the desire for ad- 
miration. Indeed, the attempt is commenced 
while they are yet in the arms: — witness the 
well-known, favourite nursery-ditto of "you 
shall have a coach and six," &c. which is 
nearly coeval, I believe, with our language 
itself. It is because, they have scarcely ever 
heard any other language, than extrava- 
gant eulogiums on their " dear, sweet, beau- 
tiful little faces ;" and their almost equally 



Introductory Remarks, fyc. 



25 



* { dear, sweet, charming little frocks," be- 
dizzened with all the frippery that money 
could purchase, or false taste and extrava- 
gant folly select. And because they have 
alwa}'s been told that these combined muni- 
tions of amatory warfare, were to ensure 
the capture of little master such-a-one, — the 
great fortune, as a sweet-heart. 

Why is it that we often find children 
deaf to reproof, and proof against persua- 
sion and punishment? It is because correc- 
tion has been bestowed much oftener from the 
ill-humour of the parent, nurse, or teacher, 
than from the ill-conduct of the child; and 
because they are more frequently chastised 
without cause, than with it. In short, why 
is so much difficulty often found in obtain- 
ing a compliance on the part of children, 
with reasonable requests, and necessary com- 
mands? It is because, the true motives of 
correct conduct have never even been pre- 
sented to their minds, — much less explained 
to their understandings, — but improper mo- 



.26 Introductory Remarks, &fc. 

lives substituted for them : and because force 
has been used, instead of argument; and 
harsh, cruel usage, in lieu of kind, affection- 
ate treatment. Add to all these instances of 
misrule, that cakes and sweetmeats are some- 
times administered for the identical faults, 
which, at other times would procure blows; — 
that promises are often made both of pun- 
ishments and rewards, which are never per- 
formed; that exaggerated tales are not un- 
frequently told them for truths; and various 
other deceptions practised in preference to 
more open methods, in order to cheat them 
into compliances which might have been 
obtained by honest means; and you have a 
plain, but painful solution, of most of the 
difficulties to be encountered in the Educa- 
tion of Youth. 

But among all the various obstacles to 
success, if there are any which should be 
placed at the head of the rest, the two fol- 
lowing appear entitled to that pre-eminence; 
to wit: — the preference which many parents, 



Introductory Remarks^ fyc. 27 

as well as teachers give to the driving, ra- 
ther than to the leading system of teaching; 
and the principle of envious rivalship, most 
falsely called "generous emulation," which 
is so generally, — he may almost say, uni- 
versally relied upon, to achieve that which the 
pure love of knowledge and virtue alone, 
should be used to accomplish. They both 
appear at first, to save trouble to the teach- 
ers ; and that I have ever believed, was their 
true origin. They may be called labour- 
saving processes for the time being, to in- 
structors, as neither reason, nor eloquence, 
nor knowledge, nor talents of any kind, ex- 
cept bodily strength, are requisite to apply 
the first; nor any thing, but the stimuli of 
pride and vanity, necessary to excite the 
last. The driving system consists simply in 
carrying the verb flagellare — to flog, — flog- 
ging, — flogged, through all its various moods, 
tenses, participles, gerunds, and supines on 
the bodies of its victims ; and diversifying 
it occasionally, with a few other quickly ad- 



28 Introductory Remarks, fyc. 

ministered inflictions. Boxes on the ears are 
substituted for those vocal sounds which 
should be addressed to the understanding 
through those organs ; birching is applied in 
lieu of argument, remonstrance, persuasion, 
and reproof; and corporal sufferance is ex- 
pected to produce all that change of heart 
and soul, which nothing can effect, but men- 
tal conviction. All that this summary mode 
can possibly gain, is to secure in some cases 
a compliance, — but merely external, with 
rules and regulations; to compel a mechan- 
ical, verbatim accuracy in recitations, where 
the tongue generally utters what the head 
does not comprehend ; to cause a specious, 
but altogether deceptive display of acquire- 
ment at examinations; and to give leisure to 
the teachers to sleep, or amuse themselves 
in any other way they please. These are 
the sole gains of this method by corporal 
pains and penalties. But its losses and dis- 
advantages are beyond the power of figures 
to calculate. "They grow with the growth, 
and strengthen with the strength" of the un^ 



Introductory Remarks, fyc. 29 

fortunate pupils. Those of quick, and what 
are called "high tempers," are rendered 
stubborn, rebellious, and incurably obsti- 
nate, as well as insensible to all the nobler 
motives of conduct; while all of a milder 
cast of character, are either completely 
cowed, and debased, or irrecoverably stul- 
tified. The few who escape ruin are rare 
exceptions; and, like the instances of longevi- 
ty in Batavia, or of recoveries from the 
plague, should be considered conclusive 
proofs of the malignity of the exposure to 
which the survivors have been subjected. 

As to the much vaunted principle of 
emulation, — what is it, when carefully ana- 
lyzed, and considered with reference to the 
motive, rather than the object, — but sheer, 
unqualified envy ; or certainly the parent of 
it ? For does it not create in us an ever-rest- 
less wish to surpass those whom we emulate; 
to acquire more reputation for talents; and 
to be more admired for our literary and mo- 
ral attainments ? Does it not give us much 



30 Introductory Remarks, fyc. 

disquietude, — if not actual pain, when we 
find these individuals surpassing us, instead 
of our surpassing them ? Does it not disturb, 
and vex, and mortify us, when we perceive 
that they have more of publick estimation, 
than we have ? Finally, can we possibly be 
anxious to possess more of any thing, (no 
matter what,) than they do, without wishing 
at the same time, that they had less than we 
have : in other words, that we possessed what 
they possess, if the superiority at which this 
pernicious passion aims, can be attained in 
no other way? And what is all this, but envy? 
To call such a sentiment "generous" is the 
grossest abuse of language: nor could the 
mistake ever have been made, if the objects 
were not laudable for whose attainment this 
strangely miscalled "generous emulation" 
is to be excited. But can any end be good, 
where both the motive and the means used 
for its acquisition are bad ? Honestly to gain 
wealth for honest purposes is praise-worthy. 
But to procure it by theft, robbery, or mur- 
der, and for sensual gratifications, is a com- 



Introductory Remarks, fyc. 31 

plicated crime of the deepest dye. To ac- 
quire and to deserve a reputation for know- 
Sedge and pure morals, that you may obey 
the commands of your God, and prove a 
benefactor to mankind, is still more lauda- 
ble. But to labour for this repute, merely 
from the love of human applause ; or that 
yon may indulge without suspicion, all the 
vicious propensities of a depraved heart,— 
is sheer vanity in the one case, and a deadly 
sin in the other. The Author of this little 
work has seen many schools in the course of 
his life, and has been himself a pupil in not 
a few, — such as they were. Yet in all these 
he can safelv affirm, that he never saw a soli- 
tary case of emulation, which could, with 
any propriety, be called "generous." Per- 
petual jealousies, and heart-burnings, — if 
not open animosities and quarrels, have been 
the bitter fruits of this passion wherever he 
has known it excited. Can any thing but 
the boxing and flogging process be well 
worse, than this poisoning the heart, in or- 
der to enlighten and store the mind with use- 



32 Introductory Remarks, fyc. 

ful knowledge? Can any thing be more ab* 
surd, than to teach poor children from their 
bibles, or other books of moral and religious 
instruction, that envy is hateful to man, and 
odious to God, at the same time that wc 
do all we can to make them envious ? Would 
it, in fact, be half the labour to hold up to 
them an abstract, but attainable standard of 
excellence, and persuade them to endeavour 
to reach it, from love towards God, and be- 
nevolence towards their fellow creatures ? 
Or would there be any less prospect of sti- 
mulating them to the requisite exertions by 
such exalted motives, than if we were to ad- 
dress the baser passions of their hearts, — 
fear, and the spirit of rivalry ? Yet thus it is, 
(in thousands of instances,) by inculcating 
"envy, and hatred, and malice, and all un- 
charitableness," in the compendious form of 
"emulation" on the one hand; and by the ad- 
ministration of birching without form, and 
often without measure, on the other, that the 
youth of our country are to be imbued with 
all those amiable qualities of the heart, and 



Introductory Remarks, <^c. 33 

useful endowments of the understanding, 
which are to fit them for this world, and pre- 
pare them for the next. Can it be wonder- 
ed at that such methods fail in an hundred 
instances, where they succeed in one? Or 
rather, ought it not to excite immeasurable 
surprise, if they appear to answer in any 
whatever? 

The Author has no intention to aim 
these remarks at individuals, — having not 
the most remote wish to injure any body 
whatever. On the contrary, it is his ardent 
desire to do all the good he can to the rising 
generation by the exposure of such errors, 
and the recommendation of such truths, as 
appear to him all important to their future 
welfare. Far, very far from his heart on the 
present occasion, is every thing like per- 
sonal satire. His great object is, — as much 
as his humble powers will enable him, to 
smooth the road to the temple of science in 
the simple capacity of a Pioneer; — to ren- 
der it by his labours "a way of pleasantness, 



34 Introductory Remarks, fyc. 

and a path of peace" to those who have ta 
tread it; and by earnestly soliciting the pub- 
lick attention to this most important of all 
temporal subjects, to call forth those exer- 
tions on the part of the persons most interest- 
ed, which alone can effectually correct what 
is wrong, and establish what is right, in the 
prevailing modes of Education. 

The following admirable passages in 
Madam De Stael's celebrated work on Ger- 
many, are so applicable that I cannot forbear 
to quote them. They contain the substance 
of almost every thing valuable, which has 
been said by others in condemnation of the 
principles of emulation and fear : and they 
are taken from that peculiarly excellent chap- 
ter wherein she speaks of the so justly ad- 
mired schools of Pestalozzi, and Fellenburg. 
In speaking of the pupils, she observes : — 
"One remarkable circumstance is, that pun* 
ishments and rewards are never necessary to 
excite them to industry; it is perhaps the first 
time that a school of a hundred and fifty 



Introductory Remarks, fyc, 35 

children has been conducted without the 
stimulus of emulation and fear. How many 
evil sentiments are spared to the heart of man, 
when ive drive far from him jealousy and 
humiliation ; when he sees no rivals in his 
comrades, no judges in his masters ! Rosseau 
wished to subject the child to the laws of 
destiny ; Pestalozzi himself creates that des- 
tiny during the course of the child's educa- 
tion, and directs its decrees towards his 
happiness and his improvement. The child 
feels himself free, because he enjoys himself 
amidst the general order which surrounds 
him : the perfect equality of which is not de- 
ranged even by the talents of the children, 
whether more or less distinguished. Success 
in surpassing each other is not the object of 
pursuit, but merely progress towards a cer- 
tain point, which all endeavour to reach with 
the same sincerity. The scholars become 
masters, when they know more than their 
comrades ; the masters again become schol- 
ars when they perceive any imperfections in 
their methods, and begin their own educa- 



oG Introductory Remarks, fyc, 

tion again, in order to become better judges 
of the difficulties attending the art of in- 
struction. — " Truth, goodness, confidence, 
affection, surround the children ; — it is in 
that atmosphere they live ; and for a time at 
least, they remain strangers to all the hate- 
ful passions, — to all the proud prejudices of 
the world." 

But to return to those obstacles to a 
proper course of Female Education, which 
it was first proposed to examine. There is 
another which may dispute the superiour 
power of doing mischief, with any that has 
been named. It is the notion so often incul- 
cated, — if not by direct means, at least by 
such as are perhaps more efficacious, that 
the chief earthly purpose for which women 
" live, and move, and have their being,'' is — 
to marry. This often continues through the 
whole course of their Education at home 
and abroad, to be rung in their ears, and 
addressed both to their feelings and under- 
standings, in almost every possible way, to 



Introductory Remarks, fyc. 37 

render it a permanent, and paramount senti- 
ment. Grammatically speaking, these very 
provident matrimonisers, will not even allow 
woman to be a noun-substantive, but only a 
miserable conjunction, " having no significa- 
tion of*herself" unless coupled in wedlock 
to man. The numerous instances of widows, 
who manage all their concerns infinitely bet- 
ter than their husbands did before them, in 
vain present themselves every where to dis- 
prove this most irrational, absurd opinion. 
Still it continues to prevail, and to imbitter 
by its fatal consequences, the lives of thou- 
sands. — That old, well known maxim of 
thrift : — " get money ; get it honestly, if you 
can ; but at all events, get money " is para- 
phrased for the special use of all single girls ; 
and they never hear the last of; — "get mar- 
ried ; — well, if you can ; — but at all hazards 
get married,^ until they actually take the de- 
cisive, all important step, at any, and every 
hazard whatever. The deplorable effects of 

*See Harris's Hermes, — article — conjunction. 



38 Introductory Remarks, fyc. 

this admonition might not, perhaps, be quite 
so bad, if it were not for the means which are 
frequently recommended to achieve it. — 
These are often, not so much to cure, as to 
conceal their faults ; — not so much, actually 
to possess, as to appear to possess the quali- 
ties and acquirements which are supposed 
to be most in request among our sex ; — to 
affect similar tastes, views, and opinions with 
those whom they wish to captivate ; to pre- 
fer the arts of dress and address to all others; 
and to consider the old caution on this sub- 
ject, — " look before you leap" as applicable 
to nothing but a well or a precipice. As a 
finishing to the whole, they are taught to be- 
lieve, that if they can dance, play, and draw 
well, little more will be necessary to make 
as many conquests, as their hearts can de- 
sire. With such objects, and such prepara- 
tions to accomplish them, the happiness of 
thousands of poor misguided girls is sacri- 
ficed at the shrine of ambition, avarice, or 
some still baser, more degrading passion. — 
How far preferable would it be to teach them 



Introductory Remarks, fyc. 39 

from the moment they are susceptible of mo- 
ral instruction, that although more happiness 
may be enjoyed in married, than in single 
life ; yet that more wretchedness may be* and 
often is, endured in the first than in the last. 
Indeed, that this wretchedness is almost cer- 
tain ; unless much more than the usual cau- 
tion is taken to guard against unsuitable 
matches ; and of course, that it is infinitely 
better, never to marry at all, than to wed a 
man whose principles, habits, and passions 
are calculated to make them miserable. If 
such doctrines were uniformly taught, and 
as earnestly enforced as the opposite max- 
ims, can we believe that we should find any 
girls whatever, among those who were thus 
educated, who would not deem it beyond all 
calculation better to incur the fabulous risk 
of "leading apes in Hell," than to en- 
counter the actual misery of being chained 
to monkeys upon earth ; or of being married 
to men of bad morals, bad habits, or bad 
tempers, — that heaviest, most afflicting curse 
of wedded life ! 



40 Introductory Remarks, fyc. 

Another great obstacle, — but equally 
applicable to the progress of Education in 
both sexes, is the little estimation in which 
the class of instructors is generally held. In 
fact, it is far from being uncommon to con- 
sider this, — a degraded class ; although the 
success of all the other various trades, pro- 
fessions, and callings which are essential to 
the formation of what is denominated civil- 
ized society, depends almost entirely upon 
the manner in which the members of this 
class discharge their truly arduous and im- 
portant duties. It is to them that all the rest 
are indebted for their first principles of sci- 
ence, and of virtue ; and even the exalted 
rulers themselves of nations, owe to this pro- 
fession all the elementary knowledge neces- 
sary to fit them for the proper discharge of 
their respective functions. Yet the abstract 
idea formed of teachers, much too frequently 
is, that they are a kind of hired spies over 
the conduct of those put under their care, 
who debar them from every kind of gratifi- 
cation, whether innocent, or culpable. That 



Introductory Remarks, fyc. 4 1 

they are also, hard and cruel task-masters or 
mistresses, whose sole interest in regard to 
every thing which concerns their pupils, is 
a pecuniary one; and whose sole business it 
must be " to make them, (as it is generally 
termed,) learn their books," that they may 
be kept from being troublesome to their pa- 
rents and guardians. The connexion be- 
tween teacher and scholar being thus usually 
viewed by children, as one of irresistable 
force on one side, and unavoidable submis- 
sion on the other, necessarily excites dislike, 
if not actual hatred both to school teachers, 
and to schools : but especially to the latter, 
with which it is quite common to threaten 
them as a punishment: Many, I think, will 
recollect to have heard the alarming denun- 
ciation in language somewhat like the fol- 
lowing: — "Very well! you good-for-noth- 
ing thing you; I'll have you packed off to 
school directly, that's what I will. I'll be 
bound Mr. or Mistress such-a-one will 
trounce you well, if you ever dare to serve 
them so." The idea of being- sent to school. 



42 Introductory Remarks, §*c. 

thus becomes one of the greatest terrors of 
a child's life, instead of being rendered, (as 
it might be,) one of its most desirable occu- 
pations. These early fears and antipathies 
rarely wear off; or if they do, it is frequently 
too late for the individual to profit much by 
the change. 

The abstract idea formed of teachers 
'ought to be, that they are persons possessing 
in an eminent degree, all the endowments of 
the head, as well as qualities of the heart, 
which are requisite to enable them to store 
the minds of youth with the elements of 
knowledge, and to inspire their souls with the 
principles and the love of virtue. That they 
are persons who will, as far as practicable, 
supply the place of tender parents to the ob- 
jects of their care: and that the connexion 
which will subsist between such teachers, and 
their pupils, will be one, where unchangea- 
ble kindness, judicious forbearance, and ra- 
tional treatment on one side; with gratitude, 
esteem, and affection on the other ? will form 



Introductory Remarks, fyc. 43 

their bond of union* A bond in fact, with- 
out which, the hope is utterly Vain, of ever 
exciting, — (should it be wanting in the first 
instance,) that earnest, lasting desire to learn, 
which is the sine qua non, — the indispensable 
pre-requisite to all improvement whatever. 
Indeed, unless this bond can be established, 
the most learned teachers in the world, will 
be able to do little more, than the most ig- 
norant. 

If these opinions are just, it must be 
obvious to every one, that neither of the ob- 
stacles before noticed, can have done much 
more injury to the great cause of Education, 
than the one last mentioned : and what has 
been said, will suffice to prove, that the suc- 
cess of this cause materially depends upon 
ranking the class of instructors where they 
really ought to stand. Should any who are 
unfit, profess an ability to discharge the 
great and important duties of this class, 
let them receive in full measure, all the de- 
gradation and contempt which their mis- 



44 Introductory Remarks, fyc. 

chievous incompetence will most justly de- 
serve. On the contrary where any can be 
found who are well qualified for the arduous 
task which they undertake, they can scarcely 
be esteemed too much, or appreciated too 
highly. 

I will close this catalogue of obstacles 
with one, which at first view, might appear 
of a different character. It consists in the 
extra super-puffing which all our favourite 
schools are sure to receive. This almost al- 
ways makes the teachers conceited, self- 
willed, and too secure of publick approbation 
for the steady performance of all their du- 
ties : while the effect on the pupils, is to in^ 
spire them with the confident belief, that the 
mere going to such a school, without any ef- 
fort on their part at improvement, will pro- 
cure them that sort of estimation in societv, 
which will enable them to make their fortunes : 
the meaning of which phrase, (in many of 
our domestick Encyclopaedias,) is simply, to 
marry a man of wealth; and whether he be 
knave or fool, sottish or sober, virtuous or 



Introductory Remarks, fyc. 45 

vicious, it matters not much with these calcu- 
lators. Another certain consequence of this 
puffing is, that the publick expectations will 
be wo fully- disappointed in very many cases, 
when a little nearer view is taken of the pupils, 
after they "(urn out" as the cant term for 
young people's first going into general com- 
pany, expresses it. The whole blame is 
then thrown upon the schools, instead of 
ascribing a great part of it to the mistaken, 
overweening zeal of their too partial friends 5 
who by promising more for them, than they 
could possibly perform, are sure to cause that 
which they really accomplish, to be much un- 
dervalued. This is always the effect, where 
either praise, or blame is too lavishly bestow- 
ed. For if we pitch the bar but an inch be- 
yond the true limit, the retributive justice of 
the publick will certainly draw it back far 
short of the point at which it ought to remain. 

The precepts of all the most approved 
authors on Education are certainly opposed 
to the practice of many of our schools. This 



40 Introductory Remarks, fyc. 

is a matter of much curious speculation, as 
well as of the deepest possible interest. Tn 
the foregoing remarks the Author has endea- 
voured to trace this difference to its true 
source; and at the same time to point out 
many of its pernicious consequences in rela- 
tion to the unfortunate victims of it. If 
there are still any among the great multitude 
engaged in teaching, either their own, or the 
children of others, who can hesitate between 
the two systems of leading and driving, or 
entertain the smallest doubt which to prefer; 
the facts now so generally known in regard 
to Mrs. Fry's operations in New-Gate, ought 
to put the question forever at rest. This 
most admirable, heaven-inspired woman, — 
without any other aid, than the simple means 
of mild, benevolent treatment; and by rea- 
son and earnest persuasion, has effected 
among the vilest wretches, and veriest out- 
casts of the human race, a change of morals, 
and habits, such as neither bars, nor bolts, 
whips nor chains, — nor even the terrors of 
death itself, in all their most appalling forms. 



Introductory Remarks, fyc. 47 

have been able to produce. And shall any 
human being who has either a heart or un- 
derstanding capable of feeling the moral sub- 
lime, — (after this most affecting instance of 
what these methods can accomplish in such 
a case, as the foregoing) entertain the shadow 
of a doubt in regard to the effect to be 
wrought by them upon the minds of yet in- 
nocent children ; or those of maturer years, 
who have already received some moral cul- 
ture, and who have never been intentionally 
exposed to any thing which could corrupt 
their principles? Heaven forbid, that there 
should be any such being. This account of 
Mrs. Fry is no fable. The Author of these 
Lectures has seen and conversed with a gen- 
tleman of unquestionable veracity, who had 
been an eve witness of the success of her la- 
bours; and had listened with inexpressible 
delight to one of her soul-subduing exhorta- 
tions to the forlorn, helpless objects of her 
tender commiseration and care. Sighs and 
the silent tears of contrition in some; — the 
agonizing looks of utter despair, gradually 

6* 



4b Introductory Remarks, tyc. 

giving* way to the faint glimmerings of hea- 
venly hope in others ; and the most profound, 
uninterrupted attention in all, bore irrefra- 
gable testimony at once to the influence of 
her manner, and the power of her words. A 
scene so impressive, and deeply affecting, 
the gentleman declared that he had never 
contemplated in the whole course of his life, 
although he had witnessed many of no ordi- 
nary interest. If any should ask, — who is 
this Mrs. Fry*} the answer is, that she is a 
plain, modest, unassuming Quaker, whose 
whole life, since the publick have known any 
thing about her, has been spent, — like that 
of her blessed Saviour, "m going about, 
doing good." 

Long and thoroughly convinced of the 
great superiority to all others of the modes of 
Education herein recommended, — which in- 
deed, are nothing more, than those inculcated 
in every modern work of any reputation on 
this subject, the Author has, for many years, 
felt great solicitude for their general diflfu- 



Introductory Remarks, fyc. 49 

sion. In his wife's school he thought a good 
opportunity presented itself of becoming 
himself an humble instrument for their pro- 
motion. He was the more inclined to make 
the attempt from having always observed, 
that the very same instruction and advice con- 
tained in moral and religious books, make a 
much stronger impression on the minds of 
those to whom they may be addressed, if de- 
livered in the words, and from the lips of the 
living, than from the works of authors, either 
dead, or not personally known: — especial- 
ly where the address happens to be made 
under circumstances equally favourable with 
those in which he stood in relation to Mrs. 
Garnett's pupils. He felt assured that his 
auditors confided fully in the earnest sinceri- 
ty of his wishes to promote their happiness; 
and of course, that in general, they would 
not only listen attentively to what he might 
say ; but would be better disposed to be in- 
fluenced by his admonitions, than if they had 
read similar ones in a book, delivered in an 
abstract form, and having no personal appli- 



50 Introductory Remarks, fyc. 

cation to themselves. Such considerations 
combined with those first mentioned, pro- 
duced the following Lectures. Some of the 
scholars asked for copies; and this first sug- 
gested the idea of having them printed, that 
a copy in a permanent form might be pre- 
sented to each; and by that means, if what 
they had heard, made little or no impres- 
sion at the time, there might be a chance of 
its making some hereafter, — should any oc- 
currence recall their attention to it with a 
wish to reconsider more seriously, that which 
at first they had neglected. 

In these Lectures it was the Author's 
humble aim to point out to his wife's pupils 
the path that leads both to temporal and eter- 
nal happiness;— to prove to them, that if en- 
tered with proper dispositions, they would 
gather nothing along its margin, but fragrant 
flowers, and delicious fruits ; and to urge 
them, steadily to pursue this path, by every 
justifiable consideration of interest and of 



Introductory Remarks, $-c. 51 

honour,— of spotless reputation here, and 
of endless felicity hereafter, which he be- 
lieved could influence their hearts, or carry 
conviction to their understandings. 

How far either her labours, or his will 
succeed, time alone can prove. He is not so 
sanguine as to expect, that they will do so 
fully. — >even in a bare majority of cases. 
Failures will happen in all human pursuits r 
nor is it in the power of frail mortality to 
command entire success in any thing. Even 
in the days of Apostolick missions, hundreds 
rejected, for one who embraced the truth s 
although recommended and enforced by all 
the glowing, fervent eloquence of inspira- 
tion. Utterly vain then, would be the expec- 
tation, — even if they had so little experience 
as to entertain it, that their efforts, either 
single, or united, can produce more than a 
partial and very limited good effect. All 
that the Author can confidently say, is, that 
he feels sure of having pointed out the right 
course ; as well as of having used every ar- 



02 Introductory Remarks, fyc. 

gument he could think of, to induce others 
to follow it. If he fails, — the disappointment 
of his hopes, — sincere and earnest as they 
are, must be ascribed to some defect in his 
mode of recommending, rather than to the 
recommendations themselves. Should he 
ever have good cause to think that he has 
fully succeeded, — even in a single case, he 
will be more than compensated for all his 
trouble; as his will then be the inestimable 
gratification of believing that he may have 
been one of the humble instruments in the 
hands of Providence for promoting and se- 
curing the present, as well as future happiness 
of his creatures. 

To confide your child to another, for 
the great purpose of Education, is to cre- 
ate a trust, fully as sacred, as any that a 
parent can possibly make. Such is the 
trust to which the Author looks upon Mrs. 
Garnett and himself as parties : and in ad- 
dressing these Lectures to her pupils, he 
has considered himself, as in some measure 



Introductory Remarks, fyc. 53 

fulfilling his part of a compact, not less full 
of difficulty, and of danger, than it is of in- 
terest to all the persons concerned. How 
he has executed this voluntarily assumed 
duty, remains for that publick to decide, who 
although not parties in the first instance, 
are now about to be appealed to, as judges, 
by the compliance of the Author with the 
Editor's wish to publish a second, and en- 
larged edition of the following Lectures. 

To these the Author has added, — as a 
suitable Appendix, what he has entitled 
"The Gossip's Manual," in which he has at- 
tempted to enlist other aids in support of 
what has been said in the Lectures themselves 
against that most pernicious, and odious 
practice called " Gossipping." 

THE iWTHOR. 

October 4(L 1824. 



JWr^t Strfm 



•\. ••,.•*.. •...' 






LECTURES 



ON 



FEMALE EDUCATION. 



An anxious desire, my }^oung friends, to 
aid your own exertions, while your Educa- 
tion is confided to our care, in the acquisi- 
tion of useful knowledge, and to supply your 
minds with lasting topicks for future im^ 
provement, after we shall all be separated, — i 
perhaps never to meet again, — has induced 
me to undertake a course of Lectures on Fe- 
male Education. One of these I propose to 
deliver once a quarter, should the present 
Lecture appear to produce the effect, which 
for your sakes, I most earnestly hope it may. 
Let me, therefore, solicit your undivided at- 
tention for the very short time during which 



56 Leclu 



res on 



I shall address you, on subjects no less mo- 
mentous than the happiness of your temporal 
and eternal existence. 

Be not startled, my youthful auditors, 
at the sombre colouring of these preliminary 
remarks. The principal topicks on which I 
design to comment, are too deeply interest- 
ing both to your present and future welfare 
to be lightly treated ; nor could I begin their 
discussion without the most serious impres- 
sions, any more than I could smile were I 
to see you on the verge of ruin. In fact, I 
have known so many young persons of each 
sex who have blasted their hopes, their 
health, their fortunes and their felicity, by 
disregarding the proper means to promote 
them; that I can feel no other sentiment than 
one of solemn and deep anxiety, when I ad- 
dress myself on such themes to the children 
of our temporary adoption — for such in fact 
you all are, — at least so long as you remain 
under our care. Again then, I must earnestly 
beseech you, by every aspiration of lau- 



Female Education. 57 

dable ambition for future excellence; by all 
the tender ties which connect you with so- 
ciety ; and by your dearest hopes in regard 
both to this world and the next, that you will 
most seriously and deliberately reflect upon 
every thing which I may say on the follow- 
ing all important subjects: — 

The Moral and Religious Obligations 
to Improve your Time as much as practicable. 

The best Means of Improvement, 

Temper and Deportment. 

Foibles, Faults and Vices. 

Manners, Accomplishments, Fashions 
and Conversation. 

Associates, Friends and Connexions. 

Each of these heads in their turn shall 
be the subject of a separate Lecture; and al- 



58 Lectures cni 

though I can neither urge them with all the 
force which they deserve; nor adorn them 
with such charms of composition as some 
could bestow, they will possess at least one 
recommendation to your notice, which I trust 
will secure a patient and favourable recep- 
tion. This is neither more nor less, than 
that solicitude for your happiness, both here 
and hereafter, which prompts me to the un- 
dertaking. I shall now proceed to illustrate 
and enforce as well as I can the subject of 
the present Lecture, which is " the Moral and 
Religious Obligation to Improve your Time 
as much as practicable." 

Happiness is the universal aim of man- 
kind ; and however we may differ as to the 
means of its attainment, all agree in believ- 
ing it to be deducible from the pleasures of 
sense and intellect, combined in various pro- 
portions and enjoyed under more or less re- 
straint. As this evidently appears to be the 
great purpose for which we were created in 
reference to this life, it irresistibly follows-, 



Female Education. 59 

that both morality and religion concur in 
placing us under indispensable obligations 
to avoid every thing which can mar, and to 
seek all things which can promote and secure 
this temporal object of our being. But here 
our difficulties commence. For although all 
will tell you, that our senses were given to 
be used, — our intellect to be exercised; yet 
some will say that the latter is only designed 
to be caterer for the former; while others 
will almost forbid you the entire use of all 
these faculties. In regard to our intellect, 
there are men who will caution you against 
too constant an application of its powers, lest 
they be worn out; while others will tell you, 
that not a moment should be lost (as they 
call it) from mental pursuits. Some will 
have us draw on these two sources of hap- 
piness, altogether for selfish purposes, at the 
same time, that others will say, we must live 
for mankind, not for ourselves. That all 
those who seek the chief temporal good by 
such means must be wrong, I think it not 
very difficult to prove. The truth is, that the 



60 Lectures on 

cases supposed, are all extremes; and the 
middle course in these, as in most other mat- 
ters, is the true one. That the mere sensu- 
alist cannot be right, requires but little argu- 
ment to show. His happiness hangs by an 
hair. His passions continually stimulate him 
to unlimited indulgence; while he is under 
no restraining power of self-control to keep 
alive the power of enjoyment. And this un- 
limited indulgence, as constantly and as cer- 
tainly tends by every act to destroy his health, 
— the sole and most precarious dependance 
of this wretched and brutal being, for those 
gratifications of which, at best, he is capable 
in a far inferiour degree to the beasts that 
perish : since they in their natural state never 
so cloy their appetites by excess, as prema- 
turely to wear out the powers which nature 
has given them. That the solitary recluse 
who foolishly denies himself every thing 
which the generality of mankind denominate 
pleasure, for the sake of devoting himself to 
endless study, cannot be much nearer the 
truth — a few remarks will suffice to prove. 



Female Education, 61 

His health, although not as much exposed 
as that of the sensualist, is still in continual 
danger of irreparable injury; his seclusion 
from society renders him cynical and selfish, 
and all his knowledge, unless it be used for 
the general good as well as his own gratifi- 
cation, is like the unprofitable servant's ta- 
lent, buried in the ground; and doubtless 
will equally incur the curse of an offended 
God. The two foregoing characters mani- 
festly can never be happy ; nor are they ever 
likely to find many imitators among your 
sex. Still as there have been some instances 
of ladies who devoted themselves to books, 
to the entire neglect of every thing else, and 
of others who, for the sake of luxurious liv- 
ing, would risk the loss of health, fortune, 
and life itself, it may not be entirely without 
its use to hold up all such, as objects of your 
avoidance. The first are eternal subjects of 
well-merited ridicule with both sexes; while 
the last excite no other sentiments, than dis- 
gust and contempt. Neither can have much 
chance of any real enjoyment ; nor are those 



62 Lectures on 

much nearer the mark, who, although ac- 
knowledging the necessity both of sense and 
intellect to human happiness, would yet live 
either entirely for themselves, or only for 
others. The truth is, we must live for both, 
if we would fulfil our duties ; and these re- 
quire that we should always endeavour to 
promote the good of others, at the same time 
that we take care of our own. Have we any 
doubts in regard to the means of attaining 
these objects, let us appeal on every practica- 
ble occasion to that Heavenly Guide,— our 
Reason,— and we shall rarely be at a loss 
how to act. This would soon satisfy us, that 
our senses were designed by a beneficent 
God, in the fulness of his wisdom and good- 
ness, to direct us instinctively, as it were, in 
the choice of such things as will contribute 
to supply our bodily wants; — to gratify the 
tastes peculiar to each sense, under such sa- 
lutary restraints as are calculated to prolong 
our power of enjoyment from these sources, 
and to guard us against external and bodily 
injury. The same divine monitor enables us 



Female Education. G3 

to comprehend the true uses also of the va- 
rious faculties of the mind ; which to be 
brought to their full vigour, and retained 
therein, require as constant exercise, as is 
compatible with health ; — this being essen- 
tial to sanity of mind, as well as body. It is 
by such combined views as the foregoing, 
of our animal and rational natures, that we 
arrive at a knowledge of the temporal pur- 
poses for which the great first cause — a God 
of infinite power, wisdom and goodness, hath 
created mankind. And having seen how 
wisely, as well as mercifully he has contrived, 
that the most direct road to happiness in this 
world, is through a strict compliance with 
all our moral obligations — among the most 
important of which, are temperance both of 
body and mind, industry in acquiring and 
usefully employing knowledge, economy of 
time and possessions, philanthropy and be- 
neficence; we are led by easy and obvious 
steps to the belief, even independent of the 
direct evidence of Holy Writ, that our situa-* 
tion in the world to come, will entirely de- 



64 Lectures on 

pend upon the extent of this compliance. 
But when we open that best gift of our Fa- 
ther and God — the Holy Scriptures them- 
selves, — this belief is confirmed beyond the 
possibility of doubt, by a revelation as clear 
as the light of day, where, in addition to the 
sanctions of reason and experience, every 
neglect of duty is denounced under the most 
awful and appaling responsibilities ; and 
every fulfilment thereof, solicited and encou- 
raged by promises of "that peace in this 
world, which passeth all understanding;" 
and of that unutterable bliss in the next, 
which "it is not in the heart of man to con- 
ceive." How is it possiVe then, my young 
friends, that any of us can neglect "so great 
salvation ?" How fatal is the desperate error 
of imagining that any indulgence whatever, 
either of body or mind, taken at the expense 
of virtue and wisdom, can procure us hap- 
piness, — even in this xery brief state of ex- 
istence ? These heaven-bestowed guardians 
of our temporal and eternal welfare, can 
never be offended with impunity ; nor do we 



Female Education. 6J> 

ever fail, sooner or later, to suffer some pun- 
ishment proportioned to every transgres- 
sion against their unerring dictates. If we 
disobey them in the slightest particular, some 
inconvenience is almost sure to follow; and 
rebellion against them in more important mat- 
ters, rarely escapes from some one or other of 
the following evils :— disgust and loathing at 
ourselves, and the objects of our short-lived 
gratifications; remorse, contempt from the 
world, poverty, disease and death. Of the 
many millions of human beings who have 
acted upon this most delusive plan of unre- 
strained indulgence, we have no historical 
record of a single individual who has not 
utterly failed in his calculation. None have 
escaped severe disappointment in seeking 
happiness from such a source; whilst thou- 
sands have met misery and ruin in all their 
most aggravated forms. God forbid, my 
young friends, that any such dreadful cala- 
mity should ever befall you ; but the fate 
which has afflicted millions of our fellow 
mortals, is never so remote that any can 



66 Lectures on 

claim entire exemption from its danger. The 
road of error, in morals and religion, has 
few — very few stopping places; and the mo- 
ment you voluntarily step into it, you place 
yourselves on the side of a slippery precipice, 
and every inch that you slide down increases 
your liability to move with accelerated velo- 
city; until at last you are irreclaimably lost 
in the bottomless gulph of eternal perdition. — 
This awful fact of the perpetually augmenting 
influence which vicious habits acquire over 
us, is farther confirmed by the experience of 
every one now living, before he has passed 
through half the very short term which hea- 
ven has allotted him. Yet still the infatua- 
tion and madness of indulging in them, rage 
as if all the moral and religious light in the 
world, had been extinguished by a new reve- 
lation from the spirit of evil, assuring us that . 
we alone could safely do what no other hu- 
man being ever had done. This is the more 
wonderful, seeing that in most temporal mat- 
ters of ordinary and daily concern, we pur- 
sue the course which prudence and common 



Pemale Education. (i7 

seuse prescribe. Who, for example, is there 
among us, who buys only two yards of cloth 
for a dress that requires six; or purchases 
one suit of clothes for a term of years, know- 
ing that not less than half a dozen will suf- 
fice? Who will take a journey of several 
days, and neglect to provide, when he can, 
all which he believes will be wanting while 
lie is gone? Or what person can be< found so 
inconsiderate, that in building a house, fails 
to aim at making it such as will enable him, 
not only to enjoy the pleasures of spring and 
summer; but to guard also against the storms 
and rigours of autumn and winter? In all 
these cases we invariably calculate in such a 
way as to secure — at least so far as human 
foresight can secure, — the requisites for com- 
fortable subsistence during the entire term 
for which we expect to want them : — in short, 
we wisely adapt the means to the end. Yet 
in providing that " breast-plate of faith and 
armour of righteousness," which are to con- 
stitute our clothing for time and eternity ; — 
in getting ready for that journey which we 
8 



68 Lectures on 

must all inevitably take, to the regions ot" 
everlasting bliss or misery; we proceed as 
if it were the easy, jo}'ous excursion of a 
single, delightful clay. And in our prepa- 
ration for " that habitation not made with 
hands, eternal in the heavens," we act with 
the thoughtless folly of so many children 
building a house of cards, which every 
breeze stronger than the gentlest zephyr, 
will instantly blow down. 

The most fortunate among us has no 
right to calculate on passing through life, a.s 
if it were one continued spring of blossoms 
and verdure, or one uninterrupted summer of 
genial showers, serene skies, and delicious 
fruits. For although the vernal hours of 
youthful innocence and health may glide away 
with a few, in continual gaiety of heart ; — 
though the season of their maturity may be 
passed in almost constant enjoyment, sacli 
instances so rarely occur, that it would be 
madness in any one to anticipate for himself 
a similnr fate. With an immense majorit\ 



Female Education. 69 

©f mankind, even the halcyon period of youth 
and maturity, is not exempt from numerous 
afflictions. And by every one who lives be- 
yond it, the gloomy autumn and winter of 
old age, with all their inconveniences, priva- 
tions and sorrows, must unavoidably be en- 
countered. The hours of irksome solitude, 
of disappointed hopes and tormenting fears ; 
of sickness, pain and anguish, or some other 
adversity, must come for each, in a greater 
or less degree. The iron hand of poverty 
may reach even those who, at present, appear 
far beyond its reach : — disease and death 
may bereave us of the dearest objects of our 
affection : — and the misery and anguish of 
such visitations may crush us to the earth. 
Alas ! my young friends, what then will be- 
come of the mind destitute of all those con- 
solatory resources, which literature, science 
and Christianity supply: — and which the God 
of all mercy and love hath taught those who 
, possess them, so to u*e, as to mitigate at least, 
if not to cure, whatever we may be called 
upon to suffer, even from the greatest cala- 



70 Lectures on 

mities of this transitory life? These are con- 
siderations that I would have daily present to 
your minds ; and I most earnestly entreat 
you for your own, as well as for the sake of 
all whom you love in this world, never to 
forget them. Do not avoid them, as sources 
of pain; for although they may prove so at 
first for a short time, yet if you will only cul- 
tivate them as an intellectual habit, such will 
be the salutary influence which they will ex- 
ercise over your whole soul, that lasting se- 
renity and peace of mind, (such as the world 
can neither give nor take away,) if not great 
positive happiness, will certainly be the re- 
sult. Take care also, ever to remember that 
although youth is the season of enjoyment^ 
it is also the season for preparation to guard 
against suffering, and to extend our plea- 
sures from temporal to eternal concerns. — 
Recollect too, that it is a season which if 
once lost to all those great and noble pur- 
poses for which it was most mercifully given, 
is gone forever : since the pliancy, elasticity 
and vigour of mind requisite to the acquire- 



Female Education. 71 

ment of such mental habits as are necessary 
to carry us well through life, can no more 
be commanded by mature years and old age ; 
than that vigour, elasticity, and pliancy of 
body and limbs which are indispensable to 
the successful performance of great feats of 
dexterity, activity and strength. There is a 
still farther aggravation attendant upon our 
abuse of this evanescent season for improve- 
ment. The bitter remorse always superin- 
duced by such abuse, upon minds not totally 
depraved, must ever greatly overbalance any 
pleasure which we can possibly enjoy from 
neglecting this most precious and irreclaima- 
ble opportunity. 

When my mind is occupied (as it often 
is.) by such reflections, I can seldom con- 
template the countenances of the young, 
thoughtless, gay people whom I frequently 
see, without being driven to calculate their 
individual chances for future happiness; and 
rarely indeed, do my anticipations solace me 
with the prospect of much enjoyment for 



Ly& 



Lectures on, 



those who arrive at maturity, unprepared as 
too many of them appear to be, for encoun- 
tering the innumerable trials which they must 
necessarily undergo. The maladies almost 
inseparable from our mortal existence; — the 
losses and crosses of adverse fortune ; the 
indescribable agony of separation by death 
from all they hold dear on earth ; together 
with "the thousand other ills that flesh is 
heir to," all rise in heart-sickening perspec- 
tive, and almost annihilate the hope that 
any will attain the portion of felicity which 
I would most willingly secure for all, if con- 
tinued prayers offered up to the throne of 
grace in their behalf, could have any avail* 
On such occasions I can hardlv forbear to 
cry out — Oh ! beware, my young friends, 
beware I beseech you, before it be too late, 
not for a moment to neglect any of the means 
which an all merciful God so constantly 
offers you of avoiding in many cases, and 
mitigating in all, the various evils and suf- 
ferings which threaten your peace in the pre- 
sent life, and impede your course ta the 



Female Education. IS 

mansions of eternal rest in the life to come. 
These means, thank Heaven, are in reach of 
us all, and require no extraordinary power 
either of body or mind to use them as our 
Creator designed we should ; for the posses- 
sor of one talent has the same promises of 
happiness with him to whom ten talents have 
been given; and from neither has more been 
demanded than he was able to perform. We 
have only to walk steadily in the path of 
duty, wherever our lot may be cast, to 
achieve all that we are asked to do; and this 
duty is comprised in the fulfilment of our 
moral and religious obligations. 

Let me not, however, close this address 
without presenting you with a picture of life 
less discouraging and revolting than the pre- 
ceding; — a picture too, which all of you 
most probably may realize, only by perse-, 
vering to the end in a course of intellectual 
improvement, guided and governed by a 
sense of duty to yourselves, to others, and 



74 Lectures on 

to your God, Useful occupation both of 
body and mind, continually prompted by 
the foregoing great, leading motives of mo- 
ral and religious obligation, is the true se- 
cret of human happiness; and the being who 
possesses it, may reasonably count upon at- 
taining as much felicity, as generally falls 
to the lot of mortality. By this course, from 
which none are excluded, you may actually 
enjoy, even the pleasures of sense, (as far 
as they are allowable) infinitely more than 
those who act upon any other principles. 
By this course it is, that you may open for 
yourselves all those exhaustless treasures of 
knowledge that furnish the proper subjects 
upon which to exercise literary taste, and 
scientifick talent. By this course alone can 
you render yourselves objects of love, ad- 
miration, and esteem to the wise and the 
good throughout the whole circle of your 
acquaintance. By this course only, can you 
ever expect to be qualified for leading others, 
in whose welfare you may feel the deepest 



Female Education. 75 

of all earthly interests, along the same de- 
lightful paths of knowledge and of virtue, 
which you have endeavoured to tread your- 
selves. By this course alone, can you pos- 
sibly repay the great debt of gratitude due- 
to those who, with unceasing solicitude, 
have watched over your infant years ; — 
have cherished you with unabated affection 
as you advanced in life ;-r— and have spared 
neither pains nor expense in your Education 
at maturer age. And finally , by this course, 
and none other, can you ever hope, on re- 
turning to the bosom of your families, after 
having successfully finished your studies, to 
enjoy the unutterable ecstacy of being re- 
ceived by those whom you most love and re- 
vere, with the silent tears of pious joy at 
finding you all that their hearts could wish, 
or fondest expectations anticipate. Yours 
then may be the endearing, heaven-directed 
occupation of smoothing the pillow of de- 
clining age ; of cheering continually the 
remaining hours of those to whom you are 
bound by all the ties of consanguinity and 



76 Lectures on 

affection ; and of meriting — as well as re- 
ceiving their dying benedictions, — should 
Providence ordain that you must survive 
them. 



Female Education. 77 



In my first Lecture, I endeavoured to 
convince you of the moral and religious ob- 
ligations to improve your time as much as 
practicable. How far I succeeded, must be 
left to yourselves to determine. The sub- 
ject of the present address is — the best means 
of Improvement : and your future destiny 
will most essentially depend upon the use 
which you make of them, while the sunshine 
of youth, enables you to labour for their ac- 
quirement, before the night of old age com- 
eth, when no man can work. Would you have 
that destiny a way strewed over with flow- 
ers ; would you colour the picture of your 
subsequent life with all the lovely tints which 
virtue and knowledge can bestow; — in short, 
would you be happ} 7 both here and hereaf- 
ter; then treasure these means of improve- 
ment in your heart, as you v/ould its vital 



78 Lectures on 

blood ; make them the constant rules of 
your conduct ; the standard by which you 
estimate the value of every object of human 
pursuit ; and the faithful guides to point 
3 r our way to the love and affection of the 
wise and the good ; to the admiration and 
delight of all with whom you may be con- 
nected by the nearest and dearest of all hu- 
man ties. If, however, you should have no 
such laudable ambition, — which God forbid : 
— if your wishes lead you to a life of utter 
idleness ; — of selfish and sensual gratifica- 
tions ; — of frivolous amusements and vain 
ostentation ; you have only to neglect these 
means, and in all probability, you may for 
a time, fully succeed in your objects. But 
what will be the consequence ? A possibility 
of making yourselves the gaudy butterflies 
of a day's chase to the frothy coxcombs and 
profligates of our sex ; — with the certainty — 
should you survive the rapidly evanescent 
period of youth, that you will become the 
caterpillars of avoidance for weeks, months 
3iid years, to all whose regard and esteem 



Female Education. 79 

is worth seeking. You may, it is true, be 
still parts (but little better than nuisances) 
in that most endearing union of interest and 
affections — called afamily. As children, you 
will be of no use to your parents ; as sisters, 
your fate will be merely — not to be disliked, 
and as wives, you can have no hope nor 
right to occupy a higher station, than pos- 
sibly to be considered convenient articles to- 
wards house-keeping. But man's most es- 
teemed participators in prosperity ; his l^est 
comforters under all the afflictions of adver- 
sity ; and his most beloved friends in every 
situation, must be women of quite a different 
order. They must have cultivated under- 
standings, great self-control, kind and affec^ 
donate dispositions, and a constant, opera- 
tive conviction of the necessity under which 
they live, faithfully to perform all their mo-? 
ral and religious obligations. I hope you 
will not understand me as predicting an old 
age of neglect and contempt to all who do 
not become what might be called learned la- 
dies. Such attainments but very few can ac- 
9 



80 Lectures on 

quire, owing to the very short period allotted 
in our state of society to Female Education. 
But that species of learning which is of in- 
finitely more value to both sexes, than any 
other, is within reach of you all. It is sim- 
ply to know your various duties ; and to feel 
and to cherish continually, the proper mo- 
tives to practise them. Many things, how- 
ever, which belong to polite Education, are 
also readily attainable : and these are not to 
be neglected without incurring the hazard 
above represented* You, (if any such now 
hear me,) who rather than study while 
young, choose in case of old age to play 
the part of the bird which, in mockery, has 
been called the bird of wisdom — vastly so- 
lemn, and marvellously sapient in your own 
conceit, but exceedingly silly and ridiculous 
in the eyes of every body else ; may abuse, 
as much as you please, all the opportunities 
for improvement afforded by the kindness 
and affection of your parents ; — without 
doubt, you will obtain your reward in se- 
curing the ridicule and avoidance which your 



Female Education. 81 

own idleness will have so inconsiderately, 
but justly merited. But to you, who aspire 
to better things, (as I most fervently hope 
that all do,)— to you who ardently desire, 
when time shall be no more, to render back 
to your Father and God, the rational and 
immortal souls which he has given you, 
adorned with all the virtue and knowledge 
of which they are susceptible ; — to you who 
have these elevated and truly glorious views, 
I need only say — enter, my excellent young 
friends, without reluctance, or apprehension, 
the path of science, however rugged it may 
at first appear. The fair and fragrant blos- 
soms of promise will soon court your accep- 
tance on every side ; and, ere long, its deli- 
cious fruits will recompense all your toil. 

Before I commence the particular sub- 
ject of the present Lecture, I would most 
earnestly urge you, seriously to consider a 
few general remarks on the means by which 
you yourselves may certainly discover, whe- 
ther any thing which I may recommend, is 



82 Lectures on 

likely to render you any service. In the 
course of these addresses, I shall have fre- 
quent occasion to hold up many qualities 
and practices for your imitation ; and not 
a few for your avoidance. The strictest 
self-examination will be your duty in both 
cases ; and exactly as you condemn or ac- 
quit yourselves without reference to others, 
in either instance, will be the benefit you 
will derive from any warnings, admonitions, 
or recommendations which I may offer. If, — 
when you hear any habit or quality men- 
tioned as a fit subject for pity, ridicule, or 
odium, you find yourselves immediately look- 
ing round among your acquaintance and 
companions to see who most resembles the 
picture ; instead of rigorously demanding of 
your own heart ; — can this be my likeness 9 
your listening to such Lectures will be worse 
than useless : for it will only sharpen your 
appetite for censure, and invigorate your 
malice ; instead of quickening your powers 
of self-detection, and strengthening your re- 
solution of amendment. On the contrary, — 



Female Education. 83 

when talent, or wisdom, or virtue constitute 
the theme of applause ; if you find your eyes 
immediately ogling yourselves in search of 
food for your pride, vanity, and egotism, 
instead of searching first for the resemblances 
among your associates and friends, — not 
that you may envy, but imitate them, your 
immediate prayer to God should be : — " Fa-> 
ther of mercies ! cleanse thou me from se- 
cret faults." Without a sufficient degree of 
humility to guard us against self-conceit ; 
and at the same time to render us more ob- 
servant to our own, than of other people's 
faults ; no rules whatever for improvement, 
can do us much good. But confidently 
hoping that you will each apply these rules as 
you ought, — that is, as tests for yourselves, 
rather than for your companions, I shall pro- 
ceed to state and explain them : — 

The first means of improvement which 

I shall recommend for your practice, is one 

upon which all the rest materially depend. 

It is briefly this : — " do with all your ability 

9* 



84 Lectures on 

whatever }'ou have to do." And the second 
is like unto it :— " never put off until to-nior^ 
row, what you ought to do to-day." I will 
not go so far as to say, that " upon these 
two hang all the Law and the Prophets ;" 
but I feel fully warranted in asserting, that 
every person's progress both in virtue and 
knowledge, will be precisely in proportion 
to his neglect or observance of these two car- 
dinal maxims. In fact, nothing either in art 
or science, can be effectually learned, or 
well executed without them. When these 
rules are faithfully observed, every step that 
we take towards the temple of knowledge is 
secure against retrogression. We appear, 
perhaps, to advance more slowly, than those 
giddy, volatile travellers, who are for going 
on at a hop, skip, and jump ; but our pro- 
gress is as certain as the light of day. And 
the most encouraging part of the business is, 
that our motion is continually and geomet- 
rically accelerated ; whereas the movements 
of those who follow any other method are 
constantly more and more retarded by fits of 



female Education, 85 

childish impatience at their own silly neglect 
of all the intermediate steps in improve- 
ment ; by the real difficulties of acquiring 
any art or science, without a thorough know- 
ledge of its rudiments; and by seeing others 
who started at the same time with them- 
selves, for the same goal$ almost within 
reach of it, while they appear either to stand 
still, or really to be going backwards. The 
inevitable consequence of this state of things 
is, an almost invincible reluctance to do 
whatever is attempted; or utter despair of 
doing any thing. We, then, according to 
the common practice of shifting the blame 
from our own shoulders, find fault with our 
capacities, when we should censure our la- 
ziness ; or perhaps seek consolation in con- 
demning the methods of our teachers, instead 
of taking shame to ourselves for neglecting 
to follow them. 

Another most essential means of im- 
provement is, to believe yourselves capable, 
by perseverance and industry, of learning 



86 Lectures ou 

whatever thousands and millions have learn- 
ed before you. Too many young persons 
are prone to conclude upon even the slight- 
est puzzle in their studies, that they are in- 
capable of unravelling it. Instead of endea- 
vouring to disentangle it by patient applica- 
tion, as they may have seen their mothers do 
by a skein of rumpled thread which at first 
appeared inextricable, they are for pulling 
and tearing away, in haste to be done, or 
throwing it into the fire, as not worth the la- 
bour. Instead of adopting for their con- 
stant motto — "Juvat transcendere montes," 
•-— " it delights me to surmount difficulties ;" 
they faint, or fall into a fit of the sn liens at 
the very bottom of the Hill of Science, rather 
than make the smallest effort to ascend it. 
Should the teacher of any such scholar ask 
at any time, after hours of patient waiting; — 
"why have you not learned your lesson 
yet?" the usual answer uttered in the tre- 
ble key of a pouting cry, is in language 
something like the following: — "Indeed, in- 
deed, now, Sir or Madam, I have tried, and 



Female Education^ 87 

tiled, and can't learn it. This plaguy thing 
is too hard — pray let me try something 
else:" When probably the whole trial has 
consisted in first taking a cursory look, and 
then holding the book the rest of the time, 
apparently perusing it, but in fact not study- 
ing a single word that it contains, and only 
gazing at the letters as so many unintelligi- 
ble hieroglyphicks cut upon paper for no 
other purpose but to plague all such little 
girls as greatly prefer play to study. To la- 
bour more or less, is the lot of the whole 
human race; it is the eternal law of our na- 
ture ; and none have the smallest right to ex- 
pect that they can gain either learning or wis- 
dom without paying a portion of this tax for it. 
Would you therefore be either wise or learn- 
ed, you must be content to encounter some 
toil for such an inestimable blessing. But 
plain, common sense, diligent application, 
and patient study are all the weapons you 
will really need for combating — aye, and 
conquering too, all the bug-bear books~lhat 
will ever be put into your hands. 



88 Lectures on 

Another means of improvement, scarce 
Jess necessary than those already mentioned, 
is never to make invidious or discouraging 
comparisons between your own progress, and 
that of others. By the first, you will lose 
in envy infinitely more than you can gain in 
knowledge, — to say nothing of the great 
effect which the perception or conceit of your 
being a little more advanced than your asso- 
ciates, will have in relaxing your own exer- 
tions. And by the last, your improvement 
may not only appear less than it really is ; 
but you may ascribe your want of equal in- 
formation to inferiour capacity, when it has 
really proceeded from the want of equal di- 
ligence. The true way is, to compare your 
own progress with itself. In other words, 
contrast from time to time, your present 
with your past acquirements ; and if you find 
upon an impartial examination that you have 
advanced, and feel a strong desire still to go 
<m, you need never despair of success. The 
calumniators of your sex have so long, and 
so often imputed to you, fickleness, petu- 



female Education, 89 

lance, want of perseverance, and incapacity 
for close study and scientifick acquirement, 
as peculiar characteristicks, that some la- 
dies seem actually to have been persuaded 
the imputation was true. Indeed, not a few 
have gone still farther, and if we are to judge 
by their practice, not only take no pains to 
disprove the slander, but would lead us to 
believe, that they even deemed these quali- 
ties feminine prettinesses and graces. But 
you may rest well assured, my young 
friends, that there is no imaginable reason 
for thinking any of those mental qualifica- 
tions which are most praise-worthy in our 
sex, either censurable, or unattainable in 
yours. The divine author of our being, 
can never have designed, that faults in one 
sex, should be virtues in the other; nor that 
mental perfection in man, should be mental 
imperfection in woman. To learn and to 
teach, to suffer calamity and relieve dis- 
tress; — to endure misery or enjoy happi- 
ness, is equally the lot and the privilege of 
both. Courage to meet danger, fortitude 



90 Lectures an 

to suffer pain, temperance In prosperity, re- 
signation in adversity, diligent application 
in acquiring useful information, and perse- 
verance in duty, are neither less necessary, 
nor more commendable in the one, than in 
the other. Away then, — for ever away with 
all such silly affectation of qualities or prac- 
tices as you would justly ridicule and des- 
pise in our sex, under the utterly false no- 
tion, that they are at least allowable, if not 
really attractive in yours. Rely upon it that 
the sentiments and habits which would make 
a foolish and contemptible man, can never 
make a wise and amiable woman. You 
might as well cultivate wens, carbuncles and 
warts for beauty-spots in your faces, as qua- 
lities, which in fact would be deformities in 
your mind. No lady would ever think, for 
«~a moment, of doing the first; — why then, 
should they ever be guilty of the last, which 
is not only equally absurd, but actually 
wicked. Although some of these remarks 
would be more appropriate when lecturing 
upon Temper; yet they are so closely con- 



Female Education. 91 

nected with the means of improvement in 
literature and science, that I could not alto- 
gether omit them here. 

The last Rule which I will give you, is 
to suffer nothing to divert or withdraw your 
attention from the immediate object of inves- 
tigation, during the time which you are re- 
quired to devote to it. A great master of elo- 
quence being once asked, what were the 
three requisites to constitute an orator, re- 
plied: — "Action, action, action;" and were 
a similar question propounded in regard to 
the acquisition of useful knowledge, we 
might with equal truth, answer: "Patient 
application, — patient application, — patient 
application :" for in the constant exercise of 
this consists the whole secret. The fable of 
the tortoise and his travelling companions, is 
a most happy illustration of this fact; for he 
arrived first at the place of destination, al~ 
though incomparably less qualified to all ap- 
pearance for the undertaking, than either of 

the party. Never intermit, therefore, youtf 
10 



92 Lectures on 

exertions to conquer any apparent difficulty 
which yaur lessons for the time being, may 
present 5 and a degree of success, sufficiently 
encouraging to enable you to go on prosper- 
ously, will assuredly follow. Learn to rely 
on your own powers, and they will not only 
seldom fail you, but they will strengthen 
with every fresh exertion. One lesson got 
for yourselves and by yourselves, is worth 
forty which other people get for you. Indeed, 
no information obtained in the latter mode- 
ls worth much more, than the knowledge of 
a parrot. You can only repeat, without un- 
derstanding, what has been told to you; and 
so can poor Poll. The petted, feathered 
prater, can look full as wise too, as the lit- 
tle Miss who is content to learn in no better 
way, than repeating by rote what she has 
heard others utter. Thus equipped for show, 
and a poor show indeed will it be, the most 
she can hope is, to pass muster among the 
equally vain pretenders to literary acquire- 
ment; but among men and women of really 
cultivated understanding, the least mortifi- 



Female Education. 93 

cation which can happen to her, is to become 
the object of their continual pity and com- 
miseration. 

I will now recapitulate the foregoing 
Maxims in the formr of mandatory precepts, 
and conclude. 

Do whatever you have to do, with all 
your might. 

Never put off until to-morrow, what you 
ought to do to-day. 

Believe yourselves capable by perse- 
verance and industry of learning whatever 
thousands and millions have learned before 
you. 

Never make invidious, or discouraging 
comparisons between your own progress and 
that of others. 

Suffer nothing to divert or withdraw 
^our attention from the immediate object of 



9A Lectures on 

investigation, during the time which you are 
expected to devote to it. 

If you will heartily adopt, and faithfully 
practise these Rules, you may all be morally 
sure of making very considerable improve- 
ments, both in knowledge and virtue. All * 
cannot expect to make them in equal degree, 
any more than they could calculate on 
making the features of their faces alike. But 
with equal opportunities, and equal diligence, 
there is not one who now hears me, but may 
certainly attain sufficient proficiency in all 
the most useful, and in some of the most 
ornamental branches of Education, amply 
to reward them for the labour of every hour 
devoted to the all-important object of mental 
cultivation. 

I will now conclude in the words of the 
eloquent Alison, than whom no man seems 
better qualified to advise, whether we consid- 
er his piety, his sound sense, or the admi- 
rable and impressive manner in which he al- 



Female Education. 95 

ways addresses himself both to our under- 
standings and feelings. In his sermon " on 
the religious and moral kinds of knowledge," 
he concludes by addressing to the youthful 
part of his audience the following deeply in- 
teresting admonitions : 

"You are called by the providence of 
God to the first rank in the society of men; 
you are called by the same providence to the 
first duties; and the voice of nature coin- 
cides with the voice of the Gospel, in the 
solemn assurance "that of those to whom 
much is given, much also will be required." 
Do you then wish, with the natural gene- 
rosity of youth, to fulfil in after years the 
duties to which you are called ? Now is the 
time for this sacred preparation. It is now, 
in the spring of your days, that you may 
acquire the knowledge, and establish the 
habits which are to characterize your lives ; 
and that you may elevate the temper of your 
minds to the important destiny to which the 

Father of Nature has called you. The 

10* 



96 Lectures on 

world with all its honours and all its tempts 
tions, will very soon be before you ; the 
paths of virtue and of vice are equally 
open to receive you ; and it is the decision 
of your present hours, which must determine 
your character in time, and your fate in 
eternity. 

" I pray God that you may decide like 
christians ; — that you may take, in early 
life, si that good part which will never be 
taken from you j" — and that neither the 
illusions of rank, nor the seductions of 
wealth, may lead you to forget what you 
owe to yourselves, to your country, and to 
your God." 



Female Education, 97 



&a<BVWMR 111% 

Our present Lecture, my young friends, 
will be on Temper and Deportment, — 
which, taken in their most comprehensive 
sense, embrace every thing that can secure 
love and esteem in this world, and happiness 
in the next. The subject is of the deepest 
imaginable interest to us all. Let me, there- 
fore, earnestly entreat you to give me your 
entire and serious attention, while I en- 
deavour to urge some of the many consid- 
erations which should recommend it to your 
constant regard. If it could add any thing 
to your wish to hear what I may have to say 
on the foregoing topicks, I would conjure 
you to imagine the possibility that the spirits 
of all whom you most value, either among 
the living or the dead, may at this moment 
be listening with indescribable solicitude to 
bear whether the individual who now ad- 



98 Lectures on 

dresses you, may utter any thing calculated 
to make an impression so lasting on your 
hearts, as to show itself hereafter, continu- 
ally in your lives. 

Temper and Deportment are the chief 
ingredients of what is called — character. 
And so intimately are they blended together, 
that it is not always easy to distinguish which 
contributes most to our good or ill fame. It 
may, however, be said, that Temper is in 
general the source of pur motives ; — Deport- 
ment the mode of performing those actions 
which flow from them. Temper supplies 
colouring for the picture of our lives ; — De- 
portment puts it on. The first, according as 
it proves good or bad, renders us objects of 
esteem or aversion to mankind; of continual 
peace, or feverish disquietude to ourselves; 
and of approval or condemnation to the God 
who made us. While the last forms either 
the greatest charm and attraction in all 
polished, virtuous society, or its bitterest and 
most disgusting annoyance. So powerful a« 



Female Education. 99 

influence indeed, do their combined agencies 
exercise over the whole human race, that 
they may truly be said to be almost despot- 
ick. For when both can be brought to bear 
fully, with all their energies in complete 
operation, they act like a spell of enchant- 
ment. They conquer dislike, subdue obsti- 
nacy, appease wrath, sooth affliction, en- 
hance joy, and not unfrequently persuade 
even our boasted reason in opposition to it- 
self. There is scarcely an action of our 
lives with which Temper, or Deportment, 
separately or united, has not some concern. 
Nor do we ever take any part in the daily 
intercourse of society, without manifesting 
something, either in feeling or manner, that 
discloses the habitual dispositions of our 
hearts, — the prevailing characteristicks of 
our actions. Of what pre-eminent import- 
ance then, is it to us all, to cultivate such 
deportment and temper onty, as will render 
this disclosure a source of allowable self- 
esteem, rather than of mortification, shame, 
and bitter self-reproach ! 



100 Lectures on 

The great, leading distinction, between 
good and bad Temper, and good and bad 
Deportment, are so obvious, that much need 
not be said about them. But there are in- 
numerable little traits and shades of differ- 
ence, that although not easily distinguisha- 
ble, are yet so frequently influencing the 
opinions which others form of us, as to re- 
quire a minute examination. A boisterous, 
n- 'i 1 ^^quarrelsome, malignant temper is 
marked, and can«»s so much 
misclliei in the world, ^. . ' o labour 

under so deplorable a misfortune' J" must be 
nearly as conscious of the fact, as those who 
suffer from its effects. Some dread, others 
fear, many despise, not a few will punish, 
and all will avoid such characters. In the 
midst of society they stand nearly as much 
alone, as in a wilderness. They can excite 
neither love, esteem, nor sympathy ; no heart 
is open to them; cheerless and forlorn must 
be the whole tenor of their existence; and 
they are almost as much excluded from all 
the rational pleasures^ the refined enjoyments, 



Female Education. 10J 

and endearing ties of social life, as if they 
were ferocious beasts of the forest, rather 
than human beings. Like Cain they have 
a mark set upon them, — or more correctly 
speaking, they have set it on themselves, 
which even little children can understand ; 
and " avoid ye, avoid ye," seems to be so 
legibly written on their very forehead, that 
he who runs may read. Do you fear (as I 
fervently hope and believe that yciuo 7 \ v *■(* 
resemble such daemons in human t& 

me implctf, v . young irienub, contin- 

ually to gu^.~» your hearts against the most 
distant approach of any of those baneful 
passions whose effects I have endeavoured to 
depict. They are fraught with deadly poi- 
son ; and to permit them, even in the slightest 
degree to influence your actions, may give 
them a power over you which you can never 
after subdue. An undeniable proof of the 
universal dread and aversion inspired by a 
contentious, scolding, malicious, violent 
tempered woman, from the earliest ages to 
the present time, is displayed in the ujaanimity 



102 Lectures on 

with which wits, satirists, moralists, and di- 
vines have always acted in denouncing, 
shaming, ridiculing, and exposing her. 
There is no term of reproach scarcely, — no 
epithet of contemptuous merriment,-^no lan- 
guage of odium and scorn, no sentiment of 
pity, repugnance and disgust, that has not 
been uttered either in speech or writing about 
her. In short, she is an object either of con- 
stant commiseration, or unconquerable dis- 
like to all who know, or hear of her truly 
deplorable disposition. To crown the whole, 
she has been stigmatized from time imme- 
morial, with every kind of nick-name that 
could degrade, vilify, and disgrace her char- 
acter. Thus, Termagant, Tygress, Vixen, 
Tartar, She-Dragon, and Spit-Fire, with 
many more of the same stamp, have so long 
been appropriated almost exclusively to de- 
signate her, that they have nearly ceased to 
have any other meaning. Nor should any 
one be at all surprised at this, who reflects 
how much it is in the power of one of these 
female daemons to disturb all social inter- 



Female Edttcation. 103 

course; to imbitter every thing like social 
enjoyment; and to poison effectually the very 
sources of all domestick happiness. Her 
tongue- — if not her hand, is against every 
body; and it is natural at least, if not alto- 
gether right, that every one's tongue should 
be against her; for she may truly be called 
the common enemv of all. 

But there is a temper apparently quite 
the reverse of this, which, although not so 
entirely odious, is nearly as much to be 
dreaded and shunned. It usually dresses 
the countenance in smiles ; and is often con- 
cealed from the individuals themselves, un- 
der the specious disguise of such an over- 
weening interest in the affairs of others, that 
no time is left for the proper attention to 
their own. Home therefore, is the last place 
in the world, where such persons will re- 
main, if they can possibly help themselves. 
In a word, this temper is known by the sum- 
mary title of " gossipping;" than which there 
cannot be one more extensive in its opera- 
'11 



104 Lectures on 

tion ; more annoying, vexatious, and pro- 
lifick in petty mischief; more corrupting to 
the hearts of the possessors ; nor more pro- 
ductive of all those suspicions, jealousies, 
animosities, disputes and quarrels, which al- 
ways interrupt, and often utterly destroy the 
peace and harmony of whole neighbour- 
hoods. If your bitterest enemy could ac- 
complish a wish against your comfort, your 
characters and your happiness, he could not 
well make a worse one, than that you should 
all become expert and confirmed Gossips. 
For your power and propensity to pursue a 
course which would mar all, would be in- 
creased exactly in proportion to the extent 
of your reception in society; and this would 
be continually extended by the constant ac- 
cumulation of family secrets, private history, 
and domestick scandal, that time and oppor- 
tunity so copiously supply to those who have 
a genuine taste for collecting. Such ma- 
terials constitute the stock in trade of the true 
Gossip. Her standard topicks of conversa- 
tion, are the blemishes, faults and vices of 



Female Education* 105 

her acquaintance, — if these are not so pub- 
lick as to deprive the exposure of all air of 
secrecy ; but where she designs to treat her 
audience to any thing peculiarly interesting 
and delightful, she serves up ihe mangled re- 
putation of some individual generally thought 
exemplary. On such occasions to betray ei- 
ther pity for the slandered, or disgust at the 
slanderer by attempting to vindicate the in* 
jured party, will generally bring your own 
character into jeopardy, as soon as your 
back is turned. As the Gossip is the cherish- 
ed inmate of many families, and cannot very 
easily be excluded from any; there is no do*- 
mestick sanctuary scarcely, but she can pen- 
etrate in some mode or other; no family 
compact so sacred, or free from all possibility 
of dissolution, that she cannot at least shake 
and weaken, if not utterly destroy it. Hence 
it becomes the more necessary to furnish you 
with as many means as I can, to enable you 
to detect, either in yourselves or others, not 
only the confirmed habit of gossipping — 
however glossed over; but also those single 



106 Lectures on 

acts, which if too often repeated, will cer- 
tainly produce that habit. This evil spirit 
frequently solicits your confidence by pre- 
tending to trust you alone with secretg, which 
she has told in the same way to every one 
who would listen to her. To judge of her 
motives, you have only to ask yourselves; — 
does any particular intimacy authorize this 
confidential communication? Have I any 
great personal interest in hearing this affair? 
Will it not materially injure the individual of 
whom it is told, if it be generally known ? 
Unless you can answer the two first in the 
affirmative, the extent of the injury to be 
done, should always convince you that no 
good motive could possibly prompt the dis- 
closure. Another unerring rule by which you 
may discern the real gossipping spirit, is the 
general practice of dwelling more upon the 
defects, faults, and vices of your acquain- 
tance and friends, than on their excellencies 
and virtues: particularly where the usual 
prologue is an earnest disclaimer of all grati- 
fication in such details, accompanied by a 



"Female Education. 107 

self-complacent averment of great regret that 
"such things are;'' — butthat the truth should 
be spoken at all times, — even if our dearest 
friends suffer by it. The gossipping spirit is 
farther evinced by selecting as favourite to- 
picks of conversation, every little detail in 
the domestick economy of our absent neigh- 
bours, and visiting acquaintance: — inferring 
sluttishness or waste from any apparent neg- 
lect, however accidental ; or parsimony and 
meanness from some scantiness of viands or 
furniture, which, for aught we know, has 
been unavoidable. In short, gossipping may 
be defined, — a restless spirit of envy, detrac- 
tion, and censoriousness, always aiming to 
do sure, but secret work ; and never in its 
proper element, except when setting neigh- 
bours together by the ears ; depreciating the 
reputation of others; or labouring to elevate 
its own at other people's expense. Talking 
without restraint about every body, and 
every thing — although, in itself, nothing 
more than a proof of an idle, ill-regulated 

mind, indicates a temper that is always in 
11* 



108 Lectures on 

danger of degenerating into this vice : — for 
vice I must call it, and of a very perilous na- 
ture too. Against this disposition, as well as 
against that first described, there is no neces- 
sity, I trust, to give you farther warning. 
Your own good feelings, your own good 
principles, your own hopes of present, as 
well as future happiness, will prove sufficient, 
as I earnestly hope, to guard you from every 
danger of such deadly infection. May Hea- 
ven grant, my young friends, that you never 
may have cause to apply any of the forego- 
ing remarks, either to yourselves, or to any 
of your connexions. 

The circumstance of the term "bad 
temper," being generally applied, chiefly to 
such as display only the angry and malig- 
nant passions, has occasioned many defects 
of temper, either to be but slightly con- 
demned, or altogether disregarded. Among 
these, the disposition to laugh at, to vex, 
and to tease our companions and acquain- 
tance; to annoy them by practical jests; nr 



Female Education* 109 

iu some apparently good-humoured way to 
wound their feelings, stands conspicuous for 
its frequency. And it is the more to be de- 
precated, because it is generally recommen- 
ded to the young and the thoughtless, by 
the air of gay wit, and jocose sprightliness 
with which its fantastick, but frequently in- 
jurious tricks are played off upon the poor 
victims of this unjustifiable practice. A mo- 
ment's serious reflection, — should either of 
you ever find herself one of these victims^ 
ought to be sufficient to convince the sufferer, 
that such a practice, if confirmed into habit, 
cannot possibly proceed from any other 
source, than a cruel, rude, and unfeeling 
heart. Shun it then, I beseech you shun it, 
as entirely unbecoming the gentle character 
of your sex ; forbidden by all the laws of 
mutual kindness, and good breeding; and 
repugnant to the true spirit of christian be- 
nevolence 

Were I to say all which might be 
urged in favour of the temper most desirable, 



110 Lectures on 

I should be compelled to write a book, in- 
stead of a single Lecture. But there is one 
place where you may find a definition, or ra- 
ther description of it, so full, and at the same 
time so concise, that you need go no farther, 
at least for the great outlines. One of the 
Epistles of St. Paul (1st Cor.) gives this ex- 
planation in language so clear and impres- 
sive, that none can read, and study it dili- 
gently, without being thoroughly convinced 
thatit contains the best summary extant of all 
the mental qualities essential to the forma- 
tion of a perfect character, so far as temper 
is necessary to make it. The single word 
"charity" comprises them all; and if all are 
to be diligently cultivated by those who anxi- 
ously desire to merit the praise of good tem- 
per ; the qualities opposed to them, are to 
be as studiously avoided by all who fear to 
incur the odium and disgrace of bad temper. 
The continual dread of the one, is not less 
necessary, than the ardent desire for the 
other, in order to secure that which alone 
can justifiably be sought. Whatever may 



Female Education. Ill 

be your future destiny, whether prosperous, 
or unfortunate; be it your fate to enjoy all the 
gratifications that wealth, or elevated station 
can confer; or to suffer all the calamities of 
pain, sickness, and abject poverty ; still good 
temper will be equally useful, equally ne- 
cessary. Without it, in the first case, you will 
find none to participate cordially in your 
pleasures ; and destitute of it, in the second, 
you will have no one to sympathize fully in 
your affliction. In either situation you 
must stand friendless and unsought. If rich, 
you will be despised, and probably hated — 
even by those who associate with you for 
your money; and if poor, you will meet 
none of that effectual aid and relief which 
always flows from the hands and hearts of 
the benevolent towards virtue in distress. 
The object of christian charity must be vir- 
tuous, or the relief administered, is bestowed 
from a sense of duty, rather than from any 
feeling of real sympathy. But how far, — 
very far short — does this supply of mere 
animal wants fall, of all which the wretch- 



112 Lectures on 

ed sufferer may often require to alleviate 
the whole burden of sorrow that overwhelms 
both soul and body. The pangs of the 
heart which constitute much the largest 
portion of human misery both in rich and 
poor, are not to be cured effectually by any 
thing but human sympathy bestowed by and 
on a truly christian spirit. Good temper 
then, my young friends, in its most com- 
prehensive sense, is the "sine qua non,"— * 
the great essential of character; without a 
large share of which you cannot possibly 
pass through life respected, esteemed, che- 
rished and beloved. In the name then, o£ 
all the dearest objects of your affections; 
by every feeling of attachment, gratitude, 
and laudable ambition, which binds you to 
life; and by all your hopes of happiness 
here and hereafter, let me implore you ne- 
ver for a moment to relax your efforts to 
subdue every unamiable disposition, every 
unkind propensity ; every emotion of envy, 
hatred, malice, and uncharitableness; every 
ebullition of scorn, anger, obloquy, revenge, 



Female Education 113' 

slander, and heart-piercing ridicule. If you 
love one another as companions, as individu- 
als of the same sex, — but above all, as christi- 
ans ought to do, you will need no other secu- 
rity against these hateful, detestable qualities : 
But without this safe-guard, continually nur- 
tured as your bosom friend, I cannot venture to 
say how long you may escape. Deeply should 
I deplore your degradation into such charac- 
ters as I have denounced; but it is a danger 
in some degree perpetually hanging over all 
those who fulfil not the christian precept — 
"love one another •" to the very letter, as 
well as in the true spirit of the command. 

The subject of deportment, although 
intimately connected with that of temper, re- 
quires some separate remarks. It compre- 
hends every thing meant by the words de- 
meanour, manner, behaviour and conduct, 
so far as the person is concerned. Good de- 
portment, — (if a single sentence could ex- 
plain it,) might be well defined, as well as 
recommended by the following concise pre- 



114 Lectures on 

cept — "never affect to be what you are not .*" 
— and if any one general rule would suffice, 
this, I believe, would be as good as any 
other. For it would guard you against an 
arrogant, supercilious manner, resulting from 
some fancied superiority; against the pre- 
tension to more learning, more wit, more 
wealth, more refinement, — in short more of 
any thing, than you had a right to claim. It 
would equally guard you too, against the 
opposite, but not less disgusting error, of af- 
fecting great humility in regard to all your 
attainments. It would secure you also against 
the awkward, embarrassed, ridiculous ges- 
tures of a would-be-fine lady; against mistak- 
ing noise for gaiety ; rudeness, for easy, allow- 
able familiarity; and boisterous mirth, and 
vulger jests for animated dialogue and 
sprightly wit. It would save you from the 
low rudeness, when entertaining others, of 
betraying your suspicions that they saw bet- 
ter things at your house and table, than they 
could see at their own. Nor would you ever 
commit, when entertained by them, the 



Female Education.. 115 

equally vulgar incivility of appearing to des- 
pise or dislike what they gave you. It would 
maintain in your minds the habitual convic- 
tion, that their own natural manner, restrain- 
ed by a constant regard to decorum, is best 
for every body ; that the essence of all good 
deportment consists in putting every one 
with whom you associate, as much at their 
ease as possible ; and that the only effectual 
mode of doing this, is to appear at ease your* 
self. The whole art consists in respectful at- 
tention to superiours; unconstrained civility 
and friendly regard to equals; kindness and 
condescension to inferiours; and uniform po- 
liteness to all. Never permit yourselves to 
use coarse, vulgar, rude, abusive, or pas- 
sionate language to anj'; and always keep 
it in mind, that although our deportment and 
apparel have this in common, — that we must 
wear them both in company; there is one 
all-important difference between them. In 
the latter case we may have an every-day, as 
well as a holiday-suit ; but in the former, 

duty, as well as policy, deniands that we 
1'2 



116 Lectures on 

should invariably keep on our best. No sit- 
uation, nor circumstances, can exempt any 
lady from this law, — one indispensable part 
of which I must here particularize. I mean 
the invariable use of those daily salutations 
interchanged by all well-bred people. They 
should be most scrupulously observed by 
every body, whether they are strangers, or 
familiar acquaintance, visitors, or members 
of the same family. For intimacy, if exempt- 
ed from this easily practicable illustration of 
good manners, would be little better than a 
license for rudeness, vulgarity, and entire 
neglect of common decorum. As good de- 
portment has its foundation in some of the 
best feelings of the heart ; reason and mo- 
rality, as well as convenience and comfort, 
may be plead in favour of its constant ob- 
servance. When not the effect of constraint, 
and mere outward compliance with what we 
believe the world requires of us, it flows di- 
rectly from the benevolent desire to please 
and oblige; and therefore, whenever we see 
it, if the actor or actress be a tolerably good 



Female Education. 117 

one, we naturally ascribe it to an amiable 
disposition. Such then is its inestimable ad- 
vantage, even where it is simply the effect of 
study and practice, unaided by natural good 
feeling; but with this to render it habitual, 
social life has no greater charm, nor stronger 
ligament. It calls forth all the tender chari- 
ties of our existence ; and cherishes, strength- 
ens, and confirms that universal spirit of 
christian philanthropy, without a large share 
of which, life itself would be a curse instead 
of a blessing. Good or bad deportment dis- 
pla3 r s itself in almost every thing we say or 
do ; and such is the influence which it exer- 
cises over mankind, that universal regard is 
attracted by the first, and universal repug- 
nance excited by the last. Indeed even the 
most splendid talents, and extensive informa- 
tion, — nay, the all-powerful and transcen- 
dent charms of beauty itself, never attain 
much popularity, nor engage much homage, 
unless the deportment of the possessor be 
conciliating and agreeable. Whereas a very 
moderate share of abilities, and knowledge 



1]8 Lectures on 

united to good manners, graceful demeanour, 
and polite conversation, — even without per- 
sonal attractions, very rarely fail to render 
the individuals who are remarkable for such 
attainments, universal favourites. Let not 
even beauty then, flatter herself with the vain 
conceit of ever making many captives, un- 
less she devotes more time to making cages 
for their safe-keeping, than nets to entangle 
them. — Fine complexion, fine features, and 
smiles, may do well enough for the latter ; 
but fine temper, graceful deportment, and en- 
gaging conversation, can alone answer for 
the former purpose. These last may also be 
called universal letters of recommendation, — 
well understood, and of great current value 
among all ranks and classes of society ; so 
much so indeed, as to be every where the 
first objects of attraction, even before any 
thought is bestowed upon what may be the 
moral principles of the persons whom we 
meet in the world. We take it for granted at 
first sight, that good deportment can flow only 
from good principles ; and wherever we see 



Female Education. 119 

it, we almost irresistibly conclude, that these 
principles are its source. How incalculably 
important then is it, my young friends, that 
good deportment, as well as good temper, 
should form not only the subjects of your 
constant meditation, but the objects of 3 r our 
unceasing regard and practice. Possessed of 
these, you would ever be secure of a favour- 
able reception, even among savages ; while 
with civilized man, their advantages are al- 
most bej'ond all powers of calculation. The 
heart that can remain shut against their fas- 
cinating influence must be made of such ma- 
terials as are rarely discovered in a human 
bosom. 

I have reserved for the last, (as by far 
the most important of all,) your deportment 
during publick and private worship. This^ 
to be effectual, either for ourselves, or as an 
example to others, should be both externally 
and internally, serious and devout. In re- 
ality, carelessness and impiety on this sacred 
occasion, is not less sinful in man, than in 



120 Lectures on 

woman; but publick sentiment exacts a much 
more strict observance of decorous and pious 
conduct from your sex than from ours. In- 
deed, so universally does this feeling prevail 
among the thinking and religious part of 
mankind, that a woman who would habitually 
be guilty of any visible inattention, levity of 
demeanour, or irreverence of attitude, during 
the few, the very few minutes devoted to 
prayer, would be looked upon, as something 
shockingly unnatural, and nearly lost to all 
sense of propriety ; — if not actually destitute 
of some of the most essential moral princi- 
ples in the female character : — such as sen- 
sibility, gratitude, and a capacity to love as 
well as to comprehend the sublime truths and 
obligations of the Gospel. And what other 
conclusion, let me ask, could be drawn by 
any reflecting mind, from beholding a set of 
weak, dependent, helpless beings — such as 
we are, owing every thing, as a matter of 
grace, to the omnipotent God who made us, — 
even the very breath that we respire, (for 
he could strike us dead in the twinkling of 



Female Education* 121 

an eye,) and yet apparently incapable even 
for ten or fifteen minutes in the twenty-four 
hours, of rendering up in spirit and in truth, 
the poor, utterly inadequate homage of our 
thanks and adoration, for all the innumera- 
ble instances of his unmerited goodness and 
mercy towards us ? Can any person who has 
a heart, and takes this view of the subject, 
fail to shudder at the dreadful peril of such 
unpardonable neglect ? Can any one who 
has a soul to be saved, refrain from instant- 
ly and fervently praying, that, if such has 
been their state, all their former disregard of 
holy ordinances may be forgiven ; all their 
past insensibility to divine favour pardoned • 
and all previous hardness, of heart and con- 
tempt of God's sacred word, be converted 
into the pure, unchangeable, and ardent 
spirit of christian devotion? May the father 
of mercies avert from each of us, all such 
irrational heedlessness of the hazardous con- 
dition in which we continually stand ; — all 
such impious disregard of his heavenly for* 
bearance and love ; all such hopeless obdu- 



1,22 Lectures on 

racy and insane ingratitude, for the daily 
opportunities afforded us for reformation ; 
although we perpetually hang over the very 
brink of that awful eternity, beyond whose 
Verge all liope will be extinct, all repentance 
Unavailing ; and nothing certain but remorse 
and despair to every soul who, during this 
life, has alike rejected the means of grace 
and the promises of heavenly glory. 

Before I close this Lecture, I would en- 
deavour, if possible, to fix your attention on 
what I have uttered, but particularly on those 
parts of my subject which involve the great 
principles of moral and religious duty. Will 
you bear with me then, for a few minutes 
longer, while I solemnly entreat you by 
every good feeling that you have ever che- 
rished ; by all the good qualities which you 
have ever loved to anticipate as constituent 
parts of your character, never to violate 
these principles? Will you listen to me, while 
I most earnestly beseech you not to suffer 
ivtiat I have said to escape your memories*- 



Female Education. 123 

like the vanishing breath of the passing 
breeze? Beware lest you consider the sub- 
jects of my admonitions aa common-place 
matters, in which you will have but little 
agency, and still less concern. The admo- 
nitions themselves are the result of my most 
deliberate judgment ; prompted by anxiety 
for your welfare; and uttered with the deep- 
est conviction of their truth and importance. 
They relate to nothing less than those chief 
elements and essential ingredients in charac- 
ter, temper and deportment; on which it 
may truly be said, that your all depends. 
For while the last, if good, will secure you 
temporal fame, esteem, and affection; your 
proper regulation of the first, is, that one 
thing needful; without which, the great, im- 
measurable interests of eternity are lost to 
you forever. 

The hour is fast approaching when 
most of us must part, — at least for many 
weeks, — perhaps forever. Under such cir- 
cumstances, is it possible that any of yoii 



124 Lectures on 

san be indifferent to the many affecting con- 
siderations which present themselves on such 
an occasion. To the anxious hopes and an- 
ticipations of your friends, and near, and 
dear connexions; to the great and sacred 
duties for the fulfilment of which you have 
jbeen so often and earnestly importuned to 
prepare ; and to all the obligations of pre- 
sent and future time, continually increasing 
both the number and dignity of their claims 
to your obedience? In contemplating the mo- 
ment of return to the bosom of your fami- 
lies, do you anxiously anticipate such a re- 
ception as ought to be given to the cherish- 
ed and meritorious objects of their most ten- 
der affections? What imaginable right have 
you to expect such endearment, if you have 
neglected to cultivate with your utmost as- 
siduity, all those qualities which alone can 
give you any just title to it? Ask yourselves 
whether it would be compatible either with 
good faith, or your filial obligations, to 
practise such a deception on those to 
whom you owe. so much, as to suffer your- 



Female Education* 125 

selves to be pressed to their hearts in the full, 
uncontradicted persuasion that you are all 
which they wish you to be, if you have not 
resisted with all your might the revolting 
habit of rude, unpolished manners; the dead- 
ly poison of selfish, and malignant passions ; 
the perverse, obstinate, and dogged dispo- 
sition to oppose every thing like good ad- 
vice and salutary restraint? With what face 
will you be able to meet those eyes beaming 
with parental love and confidence, if your 
own consciences tell you that your ears have 
been wilfully shut against both friendly ad- 
monition and necessary reproof; — that no 
self-control has been exercised; no mild, 
benevolent, affectionate feelings cultivated; 
no moral and religious duties sincerely and 
devoutly performed ; — in short, no steady, 
unalterable purpose formed, to improve both 
your hearts and understandings to the ut- 
most extent of your opportunities? Oh! my 
young friends, if this purpose be not already 
formed and fixed, let it be done immediate- 
ly, before the hour of our separation arrives. 



126 Lectures on 

Good intentions, never fulfilled, constitute it 
is said, the pavement of hell; and no figure 
of speech can possibly illustrate more forci- 
bly, the imminent peril of postponing their 
execution. Let it not, I beseech you, be 
'your case ; nor suffer my earnest wishes, and 
fervent prayers for your happiness, which 
will accompany you wherever the providence 
of God may direct your course, to be alto- 
gether unavailing. But permit me still, con- 
fidently to hope, that should we part to meet 
no more in this life, none of you will have 
lived in vain; nor fail to enjoy in another 
and a better world, your portion of that feli- 
city which awaits the virtuous, in the ever- 
lasting mansions of eternal bliss. 



Female Education, 127 



^M@^TOH IT' 



% 



The subject of the present Lecture is a 
theme, which, I lament to say, is as copious 
as it is painful. It is the Foibles, Faults, and 
Vices of your sex. Not that I design to re- 
present them greater than our own ; — for 
God knows that we have more than enough, 
which almost excluvisely, or at least in a 
much higher degree attach to our sex; but 
there are others that belong more particular- 
ly to yours ; while some are common to both, 
I lament the copiousness of my subject, be- 
cause a knowledge of these defects is so apt 
to sink below its proper height, the standard 
which we form in early life of female loveli- 
ness and perfection; and because so much 
of human happiness depends upon such an 
exemption from these failings, as very few 
attain, — although easily attainable by all 
who enjoy the inestimable advantages of good 

13 



128 Lectures on 

examples, and good Education. Would to 
God, my young friends, that I were capable 
of making you see this matter as you ought 
to do. — Would to God, that the being who 
guards your lives from injury; — who shields 
your honour from reproach ; who provides 
all the essentials for your happiness, would 
inspire me with such language, as would at 
once reach your hearts, and impress them 
with the indelible conviction, that you can 
expect no felicity either here or hereafter, 
unless you continually, and ardently endea- 
vour in reality to be, what you all, beyond 
doubt, would wish to appear; that is, with- 
out vice, without fault, without even a foible 
to sully the spotless purity of your charac- 
ters . 

Although the divisions which I have 
adopted of deviations from rectitude and 
sound principle, into foibles, faults, and vices, 
be a common one among writers on morals; 
yet I know not well, where to draw the line 
of distinction between them. They are all. 



Female Education. 129 

in fact, scions from the stock of human de- 
pravity; — children of the same family: or, 
to change the metaphor — diseases of the 
same general type, and differing only in de- 
grees of malignity. They lead alike to de- 
gradation of character, and final destitution 
of moral worth. For that which, at first, 
may well be designated by the softer epithet — 
foible, if wilfully persevered in, becomes at 
last, a serious fault ; and this again, if 
habitually practised without any effort at re- 
formation, degenerates into downright vice. 
Familiarity with one of the odious tribe, 
weakens our abhorrence of all ; we lose by 
degrees, our love of excellence and anxiety 
for fair repute; become careless of the 
worlds good opinion ; grow selfish and sen- 
sual; and not unfrequently end our career 
by exchanging the admiration, esteem, and 
affection of mankind, for contempt, disgrace; 
and infamy itself. 

But let me come at once to particulars, 
and endeavour to mark for your avoidance, — 



130 Lectures on 

without any very precise classification, all 
such errors and defects, either of temper, 
deportment, or morals, as persons of your 
age and sex, in your situations, are most lia- 
ble to contract and commit. In the first 
place, it is a radical fault of fatal tendency 
from being the source of many others, for 
almost every young person, while at school, 
to neglect, — indeed, often to disregard en- 
tirely, several practices which are universally 
observed in all well-bred, genteel society ; 
and which they themselves (were they asked 
the question) would not hesitate to say, must 
be observed by them also, as soon as they 
" turn out," according to the current phrase. 
Youth, — especially youth at school, they 
seem to think, is a season when they may 
dispense with all the common forms of civil- 
ity invariably interchanged in every polite 
assemblage of grown persons; — when they 
are privileged to be rude to each other, and 
those with whom they associate; when they 
may be as noisy, obstreperous, romping, and 
even quarrelsome, as inclination leads them 



Female Education* 1*31 

to be; and when nothing which they may 
say or do in their hours of relaxation, can 
have any effect, or abiding influence on their 
future manners and character. This is a 
most deplorable mistake. For you may re- 
ly on it with as much certainty, as on your 
present existence, that unless you practise 
while young, the manners of ladies, you will 
never attain them when old. It would be 
equally absurd to calculate on dancing well, 
or playing finely on musical instruments 
without any previous training, as to believe 
it possible to metamorphose yourselves at 
once, from rude, unpolished, hoyden girls, 
into women of easy, graceful, and amiable 
deportment. As well might the sluggish ox 
attempt the martial trampe of the well-prac- 
tised war-horse; — the clumsy tortoise emu- 
late the elastick and agile spring of the ante- 
lope ; — ?or the awkward goose imitate the 
graceful movements of a perfect opera-dan- 
cer ; as for a woman to assume the air, car- 
riage, and manners of a lady, who while she 

was a girl, had utterly neglected all the 

13* 



132 Lectures on 

means of acquiring them. Tlie habits of 
early youth would be continually breaking- 
through all your efforts at restraint ; rude 
contradictions (if formerly indulged in) 
would be constantly ready, — and often would 
burst from your lips ; — the itch to snatch 
food from each other, and from your atten- 
dants, if once practised, would often be at 
your finger's ends, even at the head of your 
own tables; the meeting and passing each 
other in the morning without notice or salu- 
tation, if habitual in youth, would be uncon- 
sciously continued in maturity and old age; 
— the slamming of doors, the totn-boy pran- 
cing along instead of walking; — the screams 
and shrieks of affected merriment or fright, 
if once your customary sport, would be very 
apt to form a part of the entertainment for 
your company in your. own houses; — and 
in short, like the cat turned fine lady, (if you 
ever read the fable,) who betrayed herself 
by jumping out of bed to run after a mouse, 
—you would be everlastingly in danger of 
exposing yourselves to derision, contempt, 



Female Kdu cation . 1 i I . I 

of pity, by your ignorance, awkwardness, 
and vulgarity in attempting to act that part 
as mistresses of families in your own (louses, 
which would be perfectly easy and practica- 
ble to you, had you always kept it in mind, 
that to play the lady well when women, can 
never be learned so easily at any time, as 
while you are girls; — if indeed, it can be 
learned at all, after that period has been suf- 
fered to pass unimproved. It is not the age, 
the house, the occupation, tin- company, or 
particular circumstances in which you may- 
be placed, that either creates or annuls the 
obligation to lady-like conduct; for none 
who are really ladies, or aspire to be so, are 
ever exempt from this duty. Once a lady, 
always a lady; — for this character is not a 
mask or dress to be put on or o(f at pleasure ; 
but must be continually worn during life, if 
you would have the world always ascribe it 
to you. 

Let nothing which I have said be 80 
construed as in any degree to check that 



134 Lectures on 

buoyancy of spirit, and gaiety of heart, 
which are the usual companions, as well as 
evidences of youth, innocence, good health, 
and happiness. No — far, very far from me 
and mine, be all such austerity. Let inno- 
cent mirth, the merry dance, the good-hu- 
moured jest, the joyous laugh go round, un- 
til the welkin rings again, provided always, 
that nothing be said or done, unbecoming 
ladies to say, or do: and provided also, that 
it be not out of season.-- ^For example, none 
of those exuberant overflowings of animal 
spirits, either look or sound well, immedi- 
ately on the arrival, or during the visit of an 
utter stranger. Still less ought they to be 
exhibited either immediately before, during 
or after family worship; for no lady in fact, 
would do such violence to the feelings of pi- 
ously disposed persons, even if she herself 
had little or no piety. Neither ought these 
outbreakings to be indulged at the expense 
of any persons much older than ourselves, 
who we believe, would be greatly annoyed 
by them : for we should ever recollect that 



Female Education, 135 

"there is a time for all things;" and that it 
is a precept of Christianity, as well as of good 
breeding, never unnecessarily to wound the 
feelings of others, even when they appear in 
reality more nice than wise; and more fas- 
tidious, than they ought to be. "Do unto 
others as we would they should do unto us, " 
— is a rule of conduct applicable to all ages, 
sexes, and conditions ; nor is it more a reli- 
gious command, than a maxim of genuine 
urbanity and politeness. This admirable 
rule, in fact, contains within itself the whole 
code of practical morality and lady-like con- 
duct ; for it is impossible that any one who 
adopts it as their constant guide can ever go 
far wrong either in morals or demeanour. 
Let me beseech you then, frequently to ap- 
peal to it in your own minds; as such an ap- 
peal will almost always enable you to deter- 
mine how to act in any situation in which 
you may be placed. 



In addressing you on these deeply in- 
teresting topicks, I must take it for granted 






136 Lectures on 

that all who hear me are sincerely anxious to 
pursue such a course as may render them 
dear to all their relatives and friends ; ad- 
mired and beloved in whatever society their 
lot may be cast; and examples of propriety 
in conduct, and rectitude in principle, to all 
who may become acquainted with them. 
These, my young friends, are no very easy 
attainments; for mere wishes can never ac- 
quire them; neither can they be imparted 
by all the admonitions in the world. Noth- 
ing in short, can make you mistresses of 
such admirable accomplishments, but the 
continual practice during your whole lives, 
both at school, and ever afterwards, of all the 
means requisite for their acquisition. The 
human mind can no more become healthy, 
vigorous, and productive of good fruit, with- 
out constant and most assiduous culture, 
than a tree can : nor is the moralist who ex- 
pects the heart and understanding to make 
even an approximation towards perfection, 
without continually exercising and cherish- 
ing all their best affections, at all more ra- 



Female Education. 137 

tional, than the horticulturist who would 
look for fair and lovely flowers in the garden 
which he had suffered to be overrun with 
noxious and loathsome weeds. Would you 
have your society eagerly sought, and en- 
joyed with delight by all with whom you as- 
sociate, endeavour to keep the following 
precepts ever present to your minds: — Be 
always particularly attentive to cleanliness 
both of person and dress ; for whatever tole- 
ration some of your own sex may feel for 
what is called a female sloven or slattern, be 
assured there is nothing like it among ours. 
Even those men who are slovens themselves, 
feel nearly as great a repugnance to a slovenly 
woman, as they would to a hog dressed in 
women's apparel. In fact, to be a slattern, 
is to offer continual violence to all those ideas 
of delicacy, purity, and loveliness which our 
sex delight to cherish as inseparable from the 
female character in its most exemplary and 
attractive form. Again, you must avoid, as 
you would a demon of mischief, every thing 
like a harsh, angry, rude, and boisterous 



lo8 Lectures oil 

manner ; for your own sex always endeavour 
to keep out of the way of such associates : 
while ours are much more apt to look upon 
those who practise them, as blackguard 
men dressed in women's clothes, than as ob- 
jects to be loved, courted, and married. 
We have, in truth, very fewPetruchios among 
us; for much the greater part of our sex 
would nearly as soon think of choosing a 
frantick bedlamite, or a barrel of gun-pow- 
der with a fire-brand in it, for a wife, as a 
woman like his Kate. In fact, no man in his 
sober senses, ever yet married a very violent 
tempered woman — knowing her to be such : 
for if he was sane before marriage, he would 
certainly calculate upon becoming insane very 
soon afterwards, or utterly miserable. In an 
evil hour are such furies (of either sex) ever 
born; for wretched indeed, to the last de- 
gree wretched do they make all who have 
the misfortune to be subjected to their power. 
Very rarely, however, do we ever meet with 
any so bad, as to be incapable of reforma- 
tion, where they themselves will resolutely 



Female Education 139 

undertake their awn cure. And to succeed, 
is the most honourable, because the most 
difficult of all conquests : for it demonstrates 
to the world, that we have all the essentials 
of great character — discernment to see our 
own defects ; magnanimity to acknowledge 
them 5 courage to combat the danger ; firm- 
ness to persevere in the arduous means of 
victory,— continual self-control 5 and power 
at last to achieve it. 

. Another most important precept is, 
most carefully to shun, and to suppress 
every sentiment even bordering on envy, 
malice, and uncharitableness. The first, (if 
silently indulged,) will prove an eternal tor- 
ment to yourselves, and if you give it ut- 
terance, your utmost Care cannot conceal 
the baseness of your motives. The conse- 
quence will be, the avoidance of all whose 
society you would probably most desire to 
enjoy. The seeond and third, especially 
when displayed in attacking the characters 

of any of your own sex, will always excite 
1*4 



140 Led 



ures on 



against you the feelings of dread, antipathy, 
and even abhorrence, if your object seems to 
be, — the ruin of reputation. Nor will it much 
mend your chance of escape, that you deal 
in hints and inuendoes, instead of open ac- 
cusation to effect your purpose. In fact the 
indirect mode of destroying character, is, if 
possible, more odious and detestable, if not 
in reality more criminal, than that which is 
direct; because it is combined with artifice, 
and indicates a source of deeper, more 
inherent, and diabolical malignity. It is, in 
short, the midnight assassin, compared to 
the noon-day murderer. These are vices suf- 
ficiently abominable, and equally criminal 
in both sexes, but the general sentiment ap- 
pears more opposed to them in your sex, 
than in ours. Why it should be so, I know 
not, unless it arises from the belief that 
siuce unsullied repute appears more vitally 
important to women than to men, it is more 
unnatural in those to whom this inestimable 
gem seems most necessary, to endeavour to 
deprive others of that, without which it. 



Female Education. 141 

would be far better that they themselves were 
dead. 

But the fault, or rather vice against 
which I would more particularly and earn- 
estly beseech you to guard yourselves, is 
that which is designated by the term gos- 
sipping, than which there is no word in our 
language, either more comprehensive in its 
meaning, or more odious in its consequences i 
for it is compounded of all that is mean, de- 
grading, and unnatural in motive; insidious, 
uncharitable, and malicious in conduct ; 
slanderous, mischievous, and destructive to 
social happiness in effect. It is true that all 
gossipping is not equally baneful ; but the 
least culpable is below the dignity of a ra- 
tional and moral agent; and originates nearly 
from the same source, which produces the 
most vicious kind ; and may become the same 
by long, unrestrained indulgence. Tiiat 
persons infected with this disease, for dis- 
ease it may justly be called, should ever ob- 
tain the footing which they often do, in good 



142 Lectures on 

company, is among the most unaccountable 
things that I know. For the opportunities 
of constant intercourse, which appear indis- 
pensable to furnish the gossip with the ali- 
ment on which she lives and feasts, are only 
to be obtained, one would think, by a con- 
tinual manifestation of qualities directly the 
reverse of those which mark and distinguish 
her character. For example, plain, unaf- 
fected, amiable manners; cordial good na- 
ture ; and such innocent, agreeable conversa- 
tion, as can wound neither the feelings of 
those who are present, nor the reputations of 
such as are absent, are the only general pass- 
ports to good society. Yet none of these de- 
lightfully-attractive recommendations can the 
genuine, thorough-paced gossip ever coun- 
terfeit, with any tolerable chance, or pros- 
pect of success. Again, the incessant clatter 
of her tongue might seem to proceed from 
the inclination to impart information, which 
in itself is a good disposition. But 'tis no 
-such thing ; a few minutes listening to her, 
suffice to prove that the sole cause is the>ex- 



Female Education* 148 

quisite, intense delight which she takes in the 
sound of her own voice; in the contempla- 
tion of her own conscious power to do mis- 
chief; and in witnessing the success of her 
efforts to disturb the peace and harmony of 
whole neighbourhoods. View her when thus 
employed, and judge merely by a slight 
glance at her manner and external appear- 
ance, you would imagine that you saw in the 
animation of her countenance, the corusca- 
tion of her &miles, and the eagerness of her 
utterance, that nothing less than the happi- 
ness of all her acquaintance, or of the whole 
human race, formed the chief object of her 
desires. But come a little nearer, trust not 
to your eye alone, listen and look attentive- 
ly, and you will soon perceive that under all 
this shew of complacency, benevolence, and 
interest in human felicity, there lurks the in- 
curable and ever busy passion for dissemi- 
nating distrust, jealousy, and hatred, where 
nil before was confidence and good-will; for 
converting social affections and friendly in- 
tercourse into bitter animosities and lasting 
14* 



144 Lectures on 

estrangement; and in short, for weaving such 
a complicated web of neighbourhood misun- 
derstandings, bickerings, dislikes, revilings, 
and slanders, that the devil himself, the great 
instigator of all such mischief, could scarcely 
unravel it, were he disposed to try. Then 
come on the endless fending and proving 
which it is the consummation of her art to set 
on foot, after her plot is sufficiently thickened 
to render all satisfactory explanations hope- 
less. May God defend and protect you, my 
young friends, from all such examples; from 
all such associates ; and still more, from all 
such friends, — if it be not a prostitution of the 
term to couple it with any such characters. 

Although the portrait which I have en- 
deavoured to give you of the gossip is in its 
most aggravated form, it is stiJI no exagge- 
ration ; and I entreat you not to imagine 
yourselves out of all danger of resembling 
it, because you feel at present exempt from 
such enormity of moral turpitude. Very 
small faults, if continually indulged without 



Female Education. 14o 

any restraint, soon become great vices; nor 
is this remark more applicable to any partic- 
ular faults, than to those which contribute to 
the formation of that social-pest — the true 
gossip. You cannot, therefore, be too care- 
ful in avoiding indulgence in any of them> 
A few general rules, if you would never de- 
viate from them, would prove an effectual 
safe-guard. The first is, never to busy your- 
selves with other people's affairs, unless by 
their own special solicitation, and even then, 
solely with the true intent to befriend them. 
The second is, never to repeat any thing that 
you hear, — although no secrecy be enjoined, 
if you believe its repetition will do more harm 
than good. And the last makes it our duty, 
as far as we justly can, rather to check, than 
to give greater currency to any tale or re- 
port whatever, which threatens to injure the 
reputation of man, woman or child. 

It may be- a salutary relief from the 
painful reflections suggested by the foregoing 
illustrations of great faults and vices, to turn 



146 Leciures on 

our thoughts to the consideration of some of 
the less pernicious defects which diminish 
the worth of the female character; but which 
still stand sufficiently high on the seale of 
imperfection to make it proper that I should 
stigmatize them for your avoidance. Among 
these may be classed, the necessity which 
some appear to think themselves under, of 
being exceedingly terrified at the sight of 
snakes, rats, spiders, and other such formida- 
ble insects and animals. This usually pro- 
ceeds from a belief that it will excite sympa- 
thy, and a high idea of the refinement and 
sensibility of the actresses. There cannot 
well be a greater mistake ; for ridicule, con- 
tempt, or pity, are the only sentiments which 
such conduct ever inspires. Another lament- 
able delusion of this class, is the impatience 
to attract that attention from strangers, which 
seems as if it would come too tardily, when 
left to take its natural course. The usual 
symptoms by which it betrays itself to a per- 
son of the slightest experience and observa- 
tion, are — whisperings to each other, when 



Female Education. 147 

the parties have nothing to say ; tittering 
and giggling at no body knows what; and 
if all this fails, — talking at, rather than tv 
the unlucky object of all this solicitude to 
be noticed. The same game may be played, 
even out of the company of the individual 
for whose attention such restless young la- 
dies are candidates ; as is very well under- 
stood by all of our sex who are not absolute 
green horns. It consigts in doing or saying 
Something, (no matter what,) in another 
room, loud enough to provoke the inquiry 
from the desired quarter of — "who is that?" 
Such manoeuvres are always considered by 
Our sex equivalent to a verbal petition in so 
many words of — "pray come and pay me 
a little attention; you can't imagine how 
much I want it." They fail an hundred 
times where they succeed once; and are lis- 
tened to, only to be laughed at. The better 
plan therefore, certainly is, to depend (as the 
mariners say) "upon plain sailing;" and never 
to forget that striking and admirable char- 
acteristick of our good mother Eve, whom 



148 Lectures on 

Milton describes as one who "would not un- 
sought be won." It is a hard case perhaps, 
that these vile men will be so insensible to 
female attractions of such general currency ; 
but it is the nature of the beast, who must 
be taken, — if taken at all, for better for worse, 
as the parties in every matrimonial contract, 
take each other. 

There is another fault which just pre- 
sents itself to my recollection (although no 
Way connected with the foregoing), agains^ 
which I will now caution you, lest I should 
omit to notice it elsewhere. Young ladies 
are rarely guilty of it, but since (hey catch 
many of their defects from elderly ones^ 
among whom you not unfrequently observe 
it, some reprehension must be bestowed on 
it. This fault is to be seen particularly in 
those who wish to be estimated as holding a 
certain rank in societ}', which confers on 
them the privilege of being quite fastidious 
in regard to all matters of domestick man- 
agement; but especially the wonderful art, 



Female Education. 149 

science, and mystery of cookery. There is 
scarcely any thing in the world— if cooked 
out of their own houses, that such ladies can 
eat, without betraying their disgust. And 
you would imagine, to hear them talk, that 
none but themselves, could possibly direct 
food to be prepared in a way that would fit 
it for the diet of a human being, — much less 
to entertain the palates of such refined and 
exquisitejudges of good living as themselves. 
They vainly imagine that this is the true 
mode to give all who see and hear them, a 
high idea of the good taste and delicate man- 
ner in which, they have been brought up/ 
But such conduct, and such conversation, is 
the very essence of vulgarity and low-breed- 
ing, incessantly struggling to ascend higher 
up the ladder of gentility than nature ever 
designed tiiey should. For although every 
real lady,— if she be a house-keeper, will 
deem it a part of her duty to acquire the 
knowledge necessary to keep a good table, 
yet you will always discover it more from 
the appearance of the table itself, than from 



150 Lectures on 

any display of the culinary art in what she 
says to her company. Nor do you ever hear 
her at her own table, — still less at that of 
another, talk as if she thought the chief bu- 
siness of life was to pamper and indulge the 
appetite for food. Epicurism in a female is 
quite bad enough ; but gluttony is to the 
last degree disgusting and loathsome. Some 
who are aware of this loathing and disgust 
felt by every man towards a gluttonous wo- 
man, and who mistake the reverse of wrong 
for right, would have the world believe that 
they deem it a great excess to eat as much 
as the leg and wing of a lark; or that it is 
altogether incompatible with female delicacy 
to live upon any thing much grosser than 
ether itself. Such ladies, in order to acquire 
what the oracular and silly books which 
they chiefly consult, call " a Sylph-Like 
For?n," will starve themselves nearly to 
death ; will deluge and corrode their stom- 
achs with acids; and will discipline and 
excruciate their bodies with corsettes, until 
good health, good spirits, and good princi- 



Female Education. 151 

pies all sink together; and the poor, deluded 
victim of infatuated vanity and folly dies a 
martyr to the vain effort of making herself 
something which nature had interdicted. 
Many — very many female constitutions are 
utterly destroyed by these insane practices ; 
and the worst of it is, that the mischief is 
rarely noticed until past remedy ; — when 
some lingering and painful dkease — gene- 
rally consumption, closes the melancholy 
scene. Such a thoughtless and prodigal 
waste of these inestimable blessings — life 
and health, is shameful and wicked beyond 
my power to describe. 

In the foregoing pages I have endea- 
voured so distinctly to mark with their due 
portion of reprobation, the chief defects and 
besetting sins to which you are exposed 
through life, that should any of them here- 
after sully your characters, endanger your 
peace, or finally mar your happiness, it will 
be entirely your own fault. Nothing, I be- 
lieve, that is material, has been omitted. But 
is 



152 Le&ures on 

should this be the case, there is no sucn affi- 
nity between virtue and vice, folly and wis- 
dom, good and bad conduct, as to render it 
at all difficult to distinguish between right 
and wrong in any situation in which you 
may be placed. The whole code of morals 
is so clearly laid down and explained in the 
Holy Scriptures, that to be ignorant on any 
point contained therein, is utterly impossible, 
if you will only read and study your Bible 
diligently. And in regard to manners, you 
have little else to do, than to take for your 
model Milton's incomparable portrait of our 
mother Eve, of whom he says : 

"Grace was in all her steps, Heaven in her eye;. 
" In ev'ry gesture, dignity and love." 

What Eve was in moral qualifications, every 
one who hears me, may be. Her innocence, 
her modesty, her mildness of temper, her 
humility and exemption from vanity, he,r 
anxiety for improvement in knowledge and 
virtue, her benevolence towards man, and 
piety towards God — are all attainable quaii- 



Female Education* 15$ 

ties by every individual of her sex, whose 
principles have not been perverted by bad 
Education. And in regard to her personal 
attractions, if all cannot possess them in 
equal degree, they should at least endeavour 
to acquire them as far as they can ; because 
they, and they alone, constitute the perfec- 
tion of female loveliness and beauty : — a per- 
fection, which I beseech you to remark, thai 
the poet represents as resulting more from 
the moral than physical effect of her appear- 
ance. 

Without this moral beauty and loveli- 
ness, by which I mean a countenance and 
manner irradiating all the amiable qualities 
of the heart, mere regularity of features and 
symmetry of form, are scarcely worth a 
passing thought. They are the very toys 
and play-things of an hour for grown chil- 
dren, who bestow not a thought on any thing 
beyond the object and moment of present 
enjoyment. 



1 54 Lectures on 

Before I close this address, I must not 
omit to admonish you against another fault 
of which most young persons, and indeed, 
far too many old ones, are guilty in a highly 
reprehensible degree. This is the want of 
economy both of time and money. In re- 
gard to the first, the calculation among 
young people seems to be, that all which 
can be taken from study and bestowed on 
idleness, is absolute gain; whereas the very 
reverse of this is true : for every moment not 
spent in improving ourselves in all useful 
knowledge, (except the time devoted to ne- 
cessary recreation,) is irreparable loss. Witlj 
respect to the want of economy in money 
matters, no person dependant as you all are 
upon others, can possibly indulge themselves 
in it, without committing, in almost every 
case, at least three decidedly immoral ac- 
tions — -to wit; selfishness, — waste, — and in- 
gratitude. For you are selfish, when you 
purchase any gratification in which others 
do not participate ; you are wasteful, when 
you expend, — as you generally do, the price 



Female Education* 165 

ftf toil and labour— that is money, in perish- 
able trifles of little, or no Value J and when 
you dissipate parental bounty in thoughtless 
extravagance, you are certainly ungrateful to 
those" who supply you, — not unfreqUently 
perhaps by great self-denialj with the con- 
veniences and comforts of life ; and above 
all, with the inestimable means of Educa- 
tion. It is but a paltry and utterly futile ex- 
cuse sometimes made to appease the com- 
punctions of conscience, that the money is 
your oWii, given to use as you please: for 
you should ever recollect that it is the plea- 
sure, — nay the command of your Maker, to 
husband our resources, that "we may give 
to those who need ;" — and do all the good we 
can, before we are called hence to settle our 
great account at the final day of punishments 
and rewards. "Come, ye blessed of my 
father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you 
from the foundation of the world," can never 
be the soul-cheering sentence of those who, 
while in this life, spend either their time, or 
tbeir money, chiefly in selfish and sensual 

15? 



156 Lectures o?i 

indulgence. To learn, and to labour truly 
to get our own living in that state to which 
it hath pleased God to call us ; and benevo- 
lently to assist others in accomplishing the 
same object, is the principal end, as well as 
paramount duty of our temporal existence. 
Neither beauty, nor riches, nor accomplish- 
ments, nor things present, nor things to come, 
can exempt any human being from this uni- 
versal obligation. 

To conclude, — let me again, and again 
entreat you to keep it ever present to your 
minds, that now, and every hour and day of 
your pupilage, is the accepted time to make 
preparation both for this world and the next. 
JVozv is the time to acquire not only your 
manners, but your morals : now is the time 
to furnish yourselves with a stock of elemen- 
tary knowledge for present and future use : 
and now is the irrevocable period (if neg- 
lected) to learn by practice, all those admi- 
rable courtesies of social life, comprehended 
in the term manners, which aid so much in 



Female Education 157 

rendering our existence "a way of pleasant- 
ness and path of peace ; " and which contri- 
bute more than any thing, but good morals, 
to secure for us the esteem, the admiration? 
arnd the love of mankind. 



female Education. 159 



»©' 



According to the order proposed in my 
first Lecture, the topicks of the present will 
be Manners, Accomplishments, and Conver- 
sation. Although much that belongs to the 
first subject, was said in treating of Deport- 
ment; yet some appropriate remarks may 
still be added, which, I believe, were at that 
time omitted. 

Manners are either artificial, or natural. 
The first are such as are super-induced by 
Education ; the second are those which re- 
sult from native good sense, prompting us 
on all occasions to act according to its dic- 
tates. That the last are incomparably the 
best, if we cannot have both, none can doubt 
who have had opportunities of contrasting 
them fairly. But since all cannot have so 
excellent a guide, as^ natural good uncle*- 



160 Lectures on 

standing, much benefit may be derived from 
knowing and adopting such conventional 
customs, and modes of behaviour, as good 
society,— by which I mean persons of the 
best sense, best principles, and greatest ex- 
perience, have agreed shall constitute what 
are called good manners. This agreement 
is the result of much observation, and is 
founded upon the immutable truth, that the 
best manners are those which best display 
good feelings, kindness of heart, and earnest 
desire to promote the comfort and happiness 
of others, by always putting them at ease in 
your company, and contriving to make them 
pleased with themselves. If you can succeed 
in this, they will never fail to be pleased with 
you. And here the first thing necessary, is 
always to keep it in mind, that you should 
constantly endeavour, as far as possible, to 
avoid every thing which may have the ap- 
pearance of practising a lesson : — ever re- 
membering that "the perfection of art is, to 
conceal art." Another general rule is con- 
tained in the trite adage : — " when you are 



Female Education. 161 

at Rome, do as they do at Rome." That is, 
you should ever conform to the manners and 
customs of whatever society you may hap- 
pen to be in ; — provided always, that you can 
do it without any violation of moral duty-. 
With this last proviso continually before you, 
it is always right to be so far in the fashion, 
both as to behaviour and dress, as never to 
be remarked for being out of it. Many peo- 
ple seem to think, that even the respectability 
of their characters is concerned in pertina- 
ciously adhering in every minute particu- 
lar, to fashions of their own, however anti- 
quated. But there is, in fact, as much fop- 
pery and pedantry, as much pride and con- 
ceit, — in short, as much want of good sense 
in all this, as in being the first, and the most 
extravagant to adopt every change which the 
passion for novelty and notoriety may in- 
vent. If singularity in these matters is allow- 
able in any, it must be in those who are far 
advanced in years ; and even they may carry 
this whim, (for it deserves no better name,) 
to a ridiculous extreme. This would at once 



162 Lectures «# 

strike every body, if a gentleman (for ex- 
ample) were to curtsy, or prostrate himself 
instead of bowing on going into company ; — 
although the thing in itself has nothing ridi* 
culous — it becomes so, merely because it is 
singular without any apparent necessity or 
pretext. One of the first exercises then, 
which we are called upon, when we enter 
into society, to make of whatever good sense 
God may have given us, is carefully to avoid 
all needless singularity either in opinions or 
practice; — taking special care however, ne- 
ver for fashion sake, either to say, or to do 
any thing which you conscientiously believe 
to be wrong. 

Easy, unconstrained looks and ges- 
tures 5 a gentle, graceful carriage ; a ready 
conformity to all the prevailing ceremonies 
of meeting and taking leave ; of entering 
into, and departing from company ; and in- 
terchanging in a proper style, such civilities 
as are customary in the particular society 
deemed the best, constitute good manners, as 



Female Education, 163 

far as art can give them. In the whole ca- 
talogue of means to attain our ends, whe- 
ther these ends are to attract regard, to con- 
ciliate esteem, or to command respect, good 
manners, next to good sense, are by far the 
most important. Indeed, if you show that 
you have the first, the world will always give 
you credit for the last ; because there is such 
a natural congruity between the outer and 
the inner man, that where the former is re- 
pulsive, the latter will always be deemed 
very defective. Eloquence without good 
manners, loses half its powers of persuasion ; 
reason unaccompanied by them, in vain at- 
tempts to convince ; and even beauty itself, 
in all the splendour of its native charms, will 
display its fascinations to little other pur- 
pose, than to gratify the vanity of its posses- 
sor, unless good manners lend their magick 
aid to show it to the greatest advantage* 
They perform the same office for the mental 
aliment which we derive from social inter- 
course, that good cookery does for the ali- 
ment of the body. They prepare, they dress> 

16 



164 Lectures on 

and they give taste and zest to that which 
otherwise would be quite insipid, — if not 
nauseating. They render the plainest food 
of the understanding palatable; and they 
impart an exquisite relish to that which is in- 
trinsically good. So much indeed, depends 
upon our acquiring them, that whether we 
wish to teach, or to be taught, to please, or 
to be pleased, — to bestow or to receive ho- 
mage of any kind worthy of rational regard, 
they are equally necessary. Would you be 
respected, honoured, and obeyed ; or esteem- 
ed, loved, and cherished ; — good manners 
must be continually practised, or neither pur- 
pose can ever be accomplished. Once for 
all, therefore, my young friends, before I dis- 
miss this subject, let me most earnestly en- 
treat you, so far to confide in my experience 
and advice, as never for one moment to be 
off your guard against every propensity, 
sentiment, or habit that may tend to coun- 
teract your efforts to acquire this greatest 
charm of social life. 



Female Education. 165 

The topick next to be considered, is 
that of accomplishments. And here so wide 
a field presents itself, that I feel at some loss 
how to commence. I am well aware, that 
if I confined myself merely to those matters 
usually called accomplishments, in the fash- 
ionable language of the day, I might com- 
prise the whole in the terms dancing, musick, 
drawing and dress. But I hope, before I 
have done, to teach you better things; and 
thoroughly to convince you that knowledge 
and goodness, together with the proper 
mode of applying both to use, constitute the 
true and only accomplishments really worthy 
of female regard. Not that I would have 
you entirely neglect the former, where good 
opportunities offer of gaining a competent 
skill in these arts. But then, I wish you al- 
ways to view them as means rather than ends; 
— as very subaltern aids to far more impor- 
tant objects ; and as mere passports to good 
society, instead of the sole talents which are 
to give you estimation and value, after you 
get there. To tutor, and I may add — to tor- 



166 Lectures on 

ture^ (as is too often the case,) the fingers 
and toes, at the expense of the head ; is to 
prefer animal instinct and muscular power, 
to reason, and intellectual vigour. And 
what else can it be called, where months and 
years are devoted, almost solely to dancing, 
musick, and drawing, — frequently in despite 
both of physical incapacity, and a total want 
of taste for any one, or all of them put toge- 
ther ? Full as much time is often devoted to 
the arts of dress, and personal decoration, — 
apparently without thought or consciousness, 
that the season for these to have much influ- 
ence, compared to the long and wearisome 
periods of middle life and old age, — (weari- 
some at least, to those who have made no 
preparation for either,) — when all the wealth 
of Golconda and Potosi combined, would 
utterly fail to continue our personal attrac- 
tions, — is but as a day contrasted with half 
a century. It is true, that in most, — if not 
in all of the modern systems of Female 
Education, you will hear much about the 
necessity of adorning the mind in preference 



Female Education. 167 

to the body. But the preaching in commen- 
dation of the first, while the practice is all in 
favour of the last, might as well be let alone 
entirely: for very few individuals, — espe- 
cially young ones, will listen to precept in 
opposition to example; although you may 
bring Seneca and Epictetus, and x\ddison 
and Johnson, and the whole tribe of moral- 
ists, with Solomon's Proverbs, and Eccle- 
siastes to help you. If both parents and 
teachers show little zeal in recommending; 
— indeed, unless they absolutely require that 
the first and chief attention be, to the acqui- 
sition of useful knowledge, — such as we de- 
rive from reading and studying the best au- 
thors ; — and unless the children themselves, 
who are the subjects of such requirement, 
will sedulously obey such recommendation 
and command, enforced by all the authority 
of good example; — the great purpose of 
Education will be either feebly and ineffec- 
tually pursued, or totally neglected. We 
may have swarms of gay, thoughtless, skip- 
ping, daubing, and flaunting females who 
16* 



168 Lectures on 

may make very passable rivals of apes in 
agility ; who may astound our ears, and daz- 
zle our eyes by the rapidity of their fingers 
on the keys of the piano; — who may draw 
and paint flowers and animals, which we 
may possibly distinguish — after the name of 
the thing to be imitated, is written under or 
over them ; and who can accumulate and ar- 
range on their persons all the colours of the 
rainbow in every possible form and fashion, 
from the simplest to the most fantastick : — 
but as for daughters, sisters, and wives, ca- 
pable of conversing rationally and agreeably 
on any subject of allowable amusement or 
instruction ; and calculated to be the pride 
and ornament of every genteel, well informed 
circle in our country, — there will be no such 
beings among us. 

Let nothing which I have said, be con- 
strued into a wish to degrade below their 
proper level either dancing, musick, draw- 
ing, or dress; nor will I object to the term 
accomplishment being applied to them all, af- 



Female Education. 169 

ter you suffer me to stamp on them what I 
believe to be their appropriate value. Dan- 
cing, I consider an exhilirating, healthful 
exercise, particularly well adapted to correct 
the very pernicious effects of the sedentary 
habits which most ladies contract in early 
life ; and calculated, (if properly taught) to 
give an easy, graceful carriage to the body. 
Musick is a most grateful recreation, capa- 
ble of imparting both to the performer and 
audience, an entirely innocent, delightful, 
and sublime pleasure. Drawing and paint- 
ing are also highly laudable accomplish- 
ments ; but they should not be cultivated, 
(after a fair trial) without a decided taste, 
and clearly marked talent for them. And as 
for dress, the only allowable attention to it 
may be comprised in the following simple 
injunction : — be always clean, neat, habited 
according to your circumstances and situa- 
tions in life, and so far in the fashion, as not 
to attract notice either for excess, or defici- 
ency in the prevailing mode. The perfection 
of good dancing does not consist so much 



J 70 Lectures on 

in the variety, and activity of the steps which 
you display, as in leading the spectators to 
believe that you can do with ease, much 
more than you attempt. They should never 
be put to the pain of witnessing struggles to 
execute far more, than you are able to per- 
form. The excellence of a musical exhibi- 
tion depends rather upon shewing that you 
understand and feel the characteristick beau- 
ties of the composer whose pieces you are 
playing, than in causing your hearers to 
think more of your fingers, and of the use 
you are trying to make of them, than of the 
composition to which they are listening. 
Make them enjoy this first, and they will af- 
terwards be certain to give you the chief 
credit of the enjoyment. Drawing and 
painting, to be admired by competent judges 
must require no labels nor advertisements to 
tell what you would be at ; but must exhibit 
striking resemblances to the objects designed 
to be depicted. And lastly, with respect to 
dress, — it should be to the person, what elo- 
quence is to knowledge : — it should adorn. 



Female Education. 171 

not bedizzen; — it should make us value the 
wearer, rather than the things worn; and it 
should lead us to admire and to love the va- 
rious qualities of the mind inferred from the 
style, and quality of the apparel itself. Much 
more depends upon this, than most young 
people imagine; for persons of much obser- 
vation and knowledge of the world, always 
form their opinion of strangers, as much from 
their dress, as from any other circumstance: 
— perhaps more ; because it is ever the first, 
and often the only one that presents itself. 
Thus neatness and simplicity of dress, always 
present to experienced observers, an idea of 
simplicity and purity of character; — habili- 
ments well adapted to the situation and cir- 
cumstances of the wearer, (if her own choice,) 
are ever considered a sure pledge of pru- 
dence, economy, and highly laudable hu- 
mility; while the contrary style leads them 
as certainly to the conclusion, that the ruling 
passions of the individual are, inordinate 
vanity, sensual propensities, presumptuous 
arrogance, and a total disregard of every 



172 Lectures on 

thing like a clue proportioning of expenditure 
to income. Upon this last practice, after all, 
much more of the comfort and enjoyment of 
life depends, than upon almost any other 
single thing that can be named. If the fore- 
going remarks are just, a single additional 
riband or feather, when you are dressed up 
to the utmost justifiable limit that you can 
afford, may turn the scale against you in the 
calculations of those who are sitting in judg- 
ment upon your characters. Flow highly 
important then, is it, that you should con- 
template this subject of dress, more in a 
moral point of view, than it is usually con- 
sidered. For pity sake do not deceive your- 
selves in this really serious matter. By a 
prudent economy in dress, you gain cent 
per cent — an hundred fold in regard to char- 
acter; whereas, if you go but a span or two 
beyond what j'our circumstances can well 
afford, you may lose more than can ever be 
regained in the estimation of all whose good 
opinion you would wish to possess. Not that 
the reflecting part of mankind are apt to 



Female Education. 173 

judge young people too rigorously in these 
particulars ; for they are ready to make great 
allowances for the influence of example, the 
contagion of extravagance, and the general 
thoughtlessness of youth. But in no man's 
mind, who deserves to be called a man, nor 
in the minds of your own sex either, of such 
of them at least, as have any common sense, 
does habitual prodigality in dress, ever ex- 
cite any other sentiment, than commisera- 
tion or contempt. For whom then, will 
such folly be practised ? Surely not for your- 
selves; — unless indeed, Narcissus like, you 
fall in love with your own shadows, and de- 
light to contemplate the bedizzened figures 
which your mirrors present to you, when all 
the money you can rake and scrape has 
been lavished on your own persons. If the 
idea is conquest to be achieved over our 
sex, alas! there are none to be caught by 
such a bait, but such as are very far below, 
even the sentiment of contempt. A few 
men-inonkies might possibly be entrapped by 
it; but then the mischief would be, that they 



174 Lectures on 

would no sooner be caught, than the captors 
would sorely repent their success : — for these 
travesty-men (if I may so express myself) of 
our race> are always too much in love with 
themselves, to be capable of loving any thing 
else; so that all your expense, and care, and 
labour, would be entirely thrown away. A 
real monkey would be a far superiour prize; 
— inasmuch as a few dollars would suffice for 
the purchase in the first instance ; and a mod- 
erate supply of nuts and cakes afterwards, 
would secure the gratitude and personal at- 
tachment of the captive; or, at the worst, 
this pet could be resold, or given away; — 
neither of which could be done with his 
prototype. 

To conclude the topick of dress, — you 
may set it down as a rule without an excep- 
tion, that an eager, passionate desire after 
new fashions in apparel, manifested by con- 
tinual, and restless researches for rare and 
costly habiliments, is an invariable proof of 
a light, weak 3 and frivolous mind : — for nei? 



I 



Female Education. 175 

ther men nor women of good sense ever 
bestow more thought on the fashions of the 
day, than to conform to them, when no 
moral consideration forbids, so far as not to 
attract notice for a studied departure from 
them. 

Some general reflections here suggest 
themselves, which I beg leave to present to 
you in regard to the irrationality of the usual 
preference given to what are commonly call- 
ed fashionable accomplishments, over the 
more solid, and truly estimable attainments 
©f pure intellect. The first in point of value, 
are to the last, what shadow is to substance ; 
what the mere ornamental decorations of a 
building are to the essential parts of the struc- 
ture; — in short, what time is to eternity. A 
few illustrations taken from common life, 
may serve perhaps to place this subject in a 
more familiar and striking light. What ma- 
riner, (for instance,) unless he were a great 
fool, or stark mad, would neglect, in prepar- 
ing his sea-stores for a long voyage, to pro- 
17 



176 Lectures on 

vide the salt-meats and bread-stuffs, deemed 
indispensable on all such occasions, — and 
content himself with putting ap, only a pot 
of sweet meats f Yet, what better claim has 
any young person to be thought in her senses, 
who in getting ready to embark on the great 
ocean of life, would be satisfied to learn a (ew 
tricks with her feet and hands, which have 
little or no power to please, after the short 
season of youth has passed away ; and be en- 
tirely unprovided with all the essential stores 
of the mind and heart, which alone can 
bring to a prosperous issue, a voyage of 
such difficulty and danger, as that of life, 
must unavoidably be to every individual of 
either sex, who attains old age ? These essen- 
tial stores, are virtue, wisdom, and know- 
ledge ; and they perform that part for the 
soul, which solid, substantial food, property 
taken, does for the body ; — -they insure sanity, 
health, and vigour of intellect; while those 
things usually called accomplishments, — 
if considered the main objects of life, have 
all the enervating and deleterious influence 



Female Education. 17T 

of intoxicating liquors : — frivolity, idleness, 
vanity, and aversion to all Useful pursuits 
invariably follow. When used occasionally, 
to give pungency and flavour to what might 
otherwise pall upon some appetites, they act 
as salutary condiments; but if made our 
daily bread, nothing can be more insipid, 
tiresome, and really valueless. For some 
farther, and highly entertaining illustrations 
of the various analogies which may be traced 
between the food of the mind, and that of the 
body, let me refer you to Goldsmith's admi- 
rably humorous poem called "Retaliation ;" 
which reference may serve as a suitable in- 
troduction to the third topick of the present 
Lecture, — this is — Conversation. 

Although no very specifick rules can 
be given on this subject, yet there are certain 
general ones so well established in all good 
society, that I must not leave you ignorant 
of them ; at the same time that I caution you 
against mistaking the occasional violation of 
them which well-bred people sometimes com- 



178 Lectures on 

mit, for a license to follow their example in 
these particulars. The first rule which I will 
mention, as being of more universal appli- 
cation, than any other, is, that when you 
converse with individuals of either sex, you 
should talk to them about their affairs rather 
than your own; for egotism is ever, either 
ridiculous, tiresome, or disgusting; and ne- 
ver fails in some degree to degrade those who 
are guilty of it, in the estimation of their au- 
ditors. Indeed, nothing but the intimacy of 
friendship will justify speaking much of your 
own concerns; and even with friends, the 
everlasting topick of self may be urged too 
far. It is a sure indication of the total ab- 
sence or great deficiency of certain qualities, 
— such as sympathy, benevolence, and dis- 
interested attachment to others, without 
which we have no right to expect ever to 
make friends, or to preserve them. Next to 
the foregoing rule comes the art of silence, 
which (although strange to say so,) really 
constitutes an essential part of good con- 
versation:— -for do we not frequently hear of 



Female Education. 179 

"speaking eyes;" and "the eloquence of si- 
lence?" The meaning of which is, that if 
3'ou would be thought an agreeable compa- 
nion, you must learn to perform the part of 
a good listener: to do which, all that is ne- 
cessary is, to give your fixed and undivided 
attention to whomsoever may be speaking to 
you. This may be done without hypocrisy; 
— the least act of which is altogether unjusti- 
fiable on any occasion. When you listen at- 
tentively to whatever is said to you, it does 
not necessarily follow, that you are pleased 
with what you hear; because common civil- 
ity, and the invariable laws of good breed- 
ing, require you to do so. But, if you can 
really feel an interest in what is said to you, 
and of course, manifest it b}' your looks, it 
will be so much the better. The self-love of 
mankind will always give you credit for abi- 
lity to say something better than you your- 
self probably could say; where your silence 
appears to proceed from a desire to hear 
them talk, rather than to talk yourself. It is 



17* 



180 Lectures on 

certainly best that you should be qualified 
both to speak and to listen well to others ; but 
if you cannot succeed in both characters, the 
second should be preferred : — for a good lis- 
tener will always be a more acceptable mem- 
ber in general society, than a great talker ; — 
simply because self-love is a much more 
common and abiding passion, than sympa- 
thy. The medium between a continual prat- 
ing, and a silence interrupted, only by yes 
and no answers, is the golden mean in con- 
versation : for the first is usually a proof of 
a trifling, vain, and thoughtless mind; while 
the others are the essence of vulgar breed- 
ing. They are the ordinary resort to con- 
ceal ignorance, or to affect knowledge, of 
those who foolishly make a literal applica- 
tion of the adage, " that a still tongue makes 
a wise head." To converse freely, without 
being obtrusive, — where your conversation 
is evidently sought, will never be considered 
ill manners in any society in which a young 
lady should be found. 



Female Education. 181 

In regard to the topicks, the range is 
sufficiently ample, to satisfy all tastes, and 
to exercise all capacities. Provided a lady 
will studiously, and entirely avoid all such 
subjects as even border on indelicacy, slan- 
der, detraction, vulgarity, angry disputa- 
tion, immorality, and irreligion, she may 
travel without restraint over the whole circle 
of the arts and sciences, using no other pre- 
caution than never to talk (except by way of 
inquiry) of what she does not understand. 
Every thing calculated to improve her inno- 
cent wit, humour, pleasantry, literature, sci- 
ence, morals, religion, — in short in useful 
knowledge of any kind adapted to her cir- 
cumstances and situation in life, is a proper 
subject of conversation for any lady who 
chooses it. And within these limits, none 
surely need ever be at a loss for something 
to say, which may suit both the occasion s 
and the company wherein they may be. 

Good conversation has been happily 
styled, in the language of poetry, " the feast 



182 Lectures on 

of reason, and the flow of soul." To pursue 
this figure, borrowed from the pleasures of 
the palate, a little farther, we may say, that 
the substantial ones which should compose 
the chief part of our food, should be some- 
thing improving to our knowledge, our wis- 
dom, and our virtue; while the dessert,— the 
Custards, the whipt-syllabubs, and trifle of the 
entertainment might be some of the lighter 
kinds of poetry, the novels, and the plays 
that form so large, (much too large,) a part 
of every fashionable library. Our present 
state of society will not admit of a lady's 
being entirely ignorant of these too highly 
valued matters: but I would have her fami- 
liarity with them extend no farther than to 
show, when they are mentioned, and quoted, 
that they are of her acquaintance. Just as 
there are persons in the world, — such as high- 
ly distinguished characters, of whom it would 
be discreditable not to know enough to tell 
who and what they are; so there are certain 
books of which we must not be utterly igno- 
rant, if we would be well received in polite 



Female Education. IBS 

society : — only take care not to attach a va- 
lue to them beyond what they are intrinsi- 
cally worth. These should be considered as 
bearing the same relation to the furniture of 
our minds, that the fashion of our clothes 
does, to the apparel of the body. Each is 
rendered in a certain degree necessary by 
the despotick, and often arbitrary dictation 
of the arbiters of both. Obey we must and 
ought to do so, if no moral, nor religious ob- 
ligation forbid. This, without a solitary ex- 
ception, is always the plain, obvious, and un- 
alterably established limit, beyond which you 
should never venture to pass in any of your 
compliances with either the customs, man^ 
ners, habits, or opinions of society. To fol- 
low these, when vicious, is to be both weak 
and wicked ; to adopt them when innocent 
and proper, is one of the surest proofs of a 
wise and well-regulated mind. 

The sum and substance of the forego- 
ing remarks, amount to this. Would you 
be praised for your manners, admired for 



184 Lectures on 

your accomplishments, and loved and es- 
teemed for your powers of conversation by 
all whose good opinion is worth gaining ; but 
one course can be pursued with any rational 
prospect of success. And that course is, — 
to strive without ceasing, to excel in all these 
particulars. Without some effort we can do 
nothing estimable; — without long continued, 
unintermitting exertion, no essential improve- 
ment either in understanding, or know- 
ledge can possibly be made : and without 
such a portion of self-respect, as will make 
us ashamed of being deficient in any thing 
which we ought to know, or to practise, but 
little progress can ever be made towards 
that degree of attainable perfection which 
all may reach, if they will only exercise suf- 
ficient resolution to persevere in the pursuit. 
This is the principal quality which creates 
the striking differences that we observe in 
the capacities and characters of mankind. 
For these differences depend much more 
upon their powers of fixed and unwearied 
attention to every thing which they try to 



Female Education. 185 

learn, than upon any natural and important 
disparity in their capabilities. In general it 
may be said, — especially of mental acquire- 
ments, that the will to make them, usually 
gives the power : and the remark may be 
extended, but with somewhat more exceptions, 
to personal accomplishments. 

Let none then, ever despair of success 
in their studies and pursuits; but always rest 
assured, that to be what you wish, and what 
you must feel confident that your parents 
and friends, anxiously desire you to be, the 
chief things necessary, are close attention, 
and steady, earnest, indefatigable persever- 
ance. To do your best always, is to take 
the true road to excellence. 



Female Education. 1S7 



Associates, Friends, and Connexions 
are the subjects of the present address ; and 
I must beg your particular attention during 
the time which I shall devote to them ; be- 
cause nothing has yet been said upon any 
topick of more vital importance both to your 
temporal and eternal interests. " Tell me with 
whom you go, and I will tell you what you 
do," — is an adage in confirmation of this 
fact, to the truth of which a long succession 
of ages has borne ample testimony. 

There probably never yet lived that 

human being, so entirely abstracted from 

society; — so completely independent of all 

those circumstances which usually attach us 

to our present state of existence, as to be able 

to command any thing — even resembling 

comfort, — much less happiness, if absolutely 

withdrawn from the world. Indeed, so much 
18 



188 Lectures on 

of the enjoyment, or misery of life, depends 
upon the friendships which we contract, and 
the connexions which we form, that we can- 
not possibly be too cautious in regard to 
either. Judgment, rather than feeling, should 
direct our choice in both cases ; or at least, 
the conclusions of the first, should ever ratify 
the impulses of the last; for if the former 
says no, while the latter says yes, you may 
be absolutely certain that judgment is right, 
and ought to be cheerfully obeyed. It is 
true, that both may be corrupted by neglect, 
and bad Education; but if you have been 
brought up as you ought to be,—-" in the 
nurture and admonition of the Lord ;" — if 
you have been taught to rely entirely on his 
heavenly guidance for every determination 
of your will consistent with your free agency, 
in relation to all that concerns your happi- 
ness, you may confidently trust that the inti- 
mations of the understanding are his special 
gift to control the wanderings of the heart. 
Away then, forever away, with all those silly 



Female Education. 189 

notions, derived from the still more silly 
books where you find them, that feeling alone 
should direct your choice in the selection of 
your friends ; or govern you in forming the 
yet more intimate and endearing union of 
marriage. " All for love, or the world well 
lost" — may possibly be in the ears of some 
young ladies, a very captivating title for a 
play; but to act on such principles in real 
life, is miserably poor sense, and still worse 
morality. The girl who hopes to find hap- 
piness either in friendship or matrimony, 
must take special care, that the source from 
which she expects to draw this felicity be 
pure; or she may calculate too surely, upon 
drinking the bitter waters of repentance for 
the rest of her life. She must call no person 
friend, whose morals are suspected, whose 
disposition is decidedly grovelling and sel- 
fish ; — she should call no one husband, whose 
temper is ungovernable, — whose mind is sor- 
did, — whose habits are vicious, and whose 
principles are depraved. 



190 Lectures on 

But these are great land-marks not 
easily mistaken, even by those who are only 
a few degrees above idiots; and such as dis- 
regard them, well deserve all the suffering 
which certainly follows their neglect. There 
are however, many nicer shades of charac- 
ter, that should be considered as marking 
their possessors for avoidance, which require 
more discrimination to detect, and greater 
self-control to guard against them ; because 
they are not unfrequently, in a great mea- 
sure concealed under the specious and im- 
posing garb of finished Hypocrisy. In proof 
of this, how often do we find the deepest art, 
and the most unsuspecting innocence associ- 
ated together under the guise of Friendship? 
How frequently do we behold the most in- 
congruous characters, — evidently so at least, 
to every body but themselves, connected 
together by what they are pleased to dignify 
with this epithet ? Indeed, so gross and pre- 
posterous is the abuse of this term, that we 
daily hear it applied in such a manner, as to 
mean, (if in truth it has in these cases any 



Female Education. 191 

meaning at all,) almost any thing, rather 
than that hallowed union of heart and soul 
which it was originally designed to desig- 
nate. Thus, you will often see a party of 
young ladies, casually brought together, 
without any previous acquaintance; — singl- 
ing, dancing, and chatting with each other 
for a few days; — then interchanging what 
they call secrets, and vows of inviolable re- 
gard ; and by the end of a week, wind up 
all by becoming most violent friends ; — al- 
though they may differ most materially in 
talents, acquirements, dispositions, and in 
every other particular calculated to form a 
lasting bond of union. When they separate, 
there is no end, for a few fleeting months, to 
the letters which they will scribble to each 
other. In these you will find them, — al-> 
though not precisely in the state of Shake- 
speare's lover, — "sighing like furnace," yet 
thrown into a thousand hot and chilly fits of 
over-weening confidence, or desperate jeab- 
ousy in regard to each other's affections. All 

this works off after a while, as all violent 

18* 



192 Lectures on 

emotions necessarily must. The heretofore 
busy correspondence begins to flag ; — the let- 
ters, which at first, followed in quick suc- 
cession, — like hail in a thunder storm, are 
now "few and far between;" until — be- 
hold! the next time these Angelinas, and 
Amaryllises, &x. he. meet, they scarcely 
know each other. Idle, and ridiculous as all 
this really is, it might perhaps, be tolerated; 
- — since once, at least, in most person's lives, 
they must be expected to play the fool ; — 
were it not for the complete waste of all the 
precious period of adolescence, which such 
trifling occasions; as well as the incapacity 
for real friendship so apt to be super-induced 
by it. Let not the foregoing remarks be un- 
derstood as expressing disapprobation of 
epistolary correspondence in general ; for 
this may be advantageously carried on, 
where no sentiment of attraction exists on 
either side, but mutual good opinion. All I 
meant to say, was, that neither friendship, nor 
love should ever be expressed, where it is not 
sincerely felt; for yon may depend on it, as 



Female Education 193 

a truth which your whole future experience 
will confirm ; that your better feelings are 
not to be thrown away, and spent upon fri- 
volous or worthless objects, any more than 
your worldly wealth ; or you may live to 
see the day, when you will have no feelings 
at all, but such as begin and end, entirely in 
self. 

The habit of speaking of every thing, 
whether trivial, or important, in the superla- 
tive degree, is a great damper; — if not an 
effectual bar to real friendship. In a word, 
it may be considered a rule having but very 
few exceptions, that the mind is light and 
trifling, and the heart cold, insensible, and 
hypocritical, exactly in proportion as the 
tongue is flippant and extravagant in lavish- 
ing upon every object without discrimina- 
tion, expressions of praise, or dispraise, 
fondness or aversion, unqualified preference 
or unlimited condemnation. When you hear 
such phrases as; — "Oh! how interesting, 
how delightful, how charming, how lovely, 



194 Lectures on 

how exquisite," with many others of the same 
stamp, profusely and indiscriminately poured 
forth upon men and monkeys, girls and 
kittens, boys and squirrels, books and Bouk- 
muslins, flowers and butterflies, you should 
take care not to place yourselves in the way 
of making one in such a catalogue* All the 
choice phrases of unqualified approbation 
and intense affection having been already 
appropriated to various ordinary objects, ani- 
mate and inanimate, there would be no lan- 
guage left to speak of you in an appropri- 
ate manner, should it strike the fancy of one 
of these ineffable young ladies to make a 
friend of you. Beware then, both in your- 
selves and others of this sentimentality,-— - 
this exuberant, illimitable overflowing of 
superlatives upon every trivial occasion ; or 
you will soon be in the situation of a Turk 
without his opium, or a drunkard deprived 
of his alcohol. Languor of spirits, teedium 
of body, and perpetual mawkishness of mind, 
must inevitably ensue from this most irra*- 
tional and prodigal expenditure of feeling ; 



Female Education. 195 

for it is not in human nature always to live 
up to the highest possible point of enjoyment, 
either mental or physical. 

The preceding observations are chiefly 
general cautions, to guard you against the 
fatal error of a bad choice either of friends, 
or of those who may be united with you in 
the sacred, indissoluble bonds of wedlock. I 
shall descend to more minute particulars, af- 
ter adding one more general warning on the 
subject of friendships with individuals of our 
sex. These are often dangerous, and never 
entirely safe, if founded upon any other basis, 
than esteem for each other's mental endow- 
ments and virtues; or carried beyond the 
most guarded conduct in conversation, in 
deportment, and in the interchange of such 
friendly offices, as ladies and gentlemen may 
very properly, and most innocently perform 
for each other. You will find in many books 
which have great currency, — at least in the 
fashionable world, that much has been said 
in recommendation of what the authors have 



196 Lectures oil 

been pleased to designate by the very spe- 
cious term, "Platonick Love." This, in 
plain English, means such a regard between 
two individuals of the different sexes, as might 
lead to marriage, but is never designed to 
do so. Beware, I beseech you, beware of 
all such equivocal connexions. The man 
who invites you to form them, is invariably, 
either a foolish coxcomb, or a deep, design- 
ing villain. If he means nothing more, than 
to repeat what he has read in some silly, or 
vicious romance, without well understanding 
it, you may excuse it, as the vain babbling 
of one, whose heart is as empty as his head. 
But if his understanding is such, as to forbid 
the belief, that he speaks at random, future 
avoidance, and silent resentment should be 
your only reply. The truth is, that scarcely 
any two things in nature are more incompa- 
tible with each other, than the affection re- 
quired to form what is called a platonick re- 
gard, and the continual restraint under which 
those who are the objects of it, are expected 
to live, if they would remain innocent. 



Female Education. 197 

Should a woman thus entangled, continue 
guiltless of every thing but the folly of the 
act;— poor indeed, wretchedly poor will be 
her compensation for the world's constant 
suspicion of her character; and for the shame 
and confusion which unavoidably ensue to 
herself, when she comes to her senses. But 
what an appalling picture does the other side 
of the canvass present ! a being shunned and 
despised by all the respectable part of society; 
— rejected and abandoned by every one 
who could console or reclaim her; and ban- 
ished forever, from the walks of purity and 
virtue, she lives in infamy, and dies — in 
utter despair! 

I will now proceed to point out certain 
defects of character, which render those 
who are so unfortunate as to labour under 
them, incapable of true friendship. Not that 
you should be too precipitate in determining 
where and in what degree they exist; nor 
too hard, after you certainly have found them, 
in pronouncing on the impossibility of such 



198 Lectures on 

a change of heart, as may convert the unde- 
serving into meritorious objects of esteem 
and affection. All things are possible with 
God: and there are no instances in which 
he displays the omnipotence of his power, 
more admirable, than those wherein great 
reformation of character is effected by the in- 
fluence of his spirit, controling, regulating, 
and directing dispositions which at first ap- 
peared utterly irreclaimable, if you can 
once find a female friend of this stamp ; — one 
who has safely gone through the fiery ordeal 
of violent passions for a considerable time 
rankling in the heart, but at last expelled; 
and in their place the all-efficient virtues of 
self-control, benevolence, tender affection, 
mildness of temper, generosity, and forbear- 
ance, — such a character is above all price. 
Here you may safely repose your trust; for 
here you may expect to find not only the 
feelings which should create and cement 
friendship, but the necessary energy to ren- 
der it active and persevering in all difficul- 
ties and dangers ; as well as the indispensa- 



Female Education, 199 

ble readiness to make due allowance for all 
your weaknesses and faults, from the recollec- 
tion of similar, and perhaps greater failings. 

The first character against which I will 
caution you, as being altogether incapable 
of friendship, is the smooth, wily, gossip- 
ping hypocrite, who deals much in her pro- 
fessions of regard for you ; and in indiscri- 
minate flattery to your face, both of your 
faults and your good qualities. Thus, if you 
have a violent temper, she is continually 
praising " warm feelings :" should you carry 
your plainness of speech to the extent of 
rudeness — she extols candour: if you hap- 
pen to be fonder of saving money, and of 
what is called, "being a great manager," 
than of any thing else, she is constantly ap- 
plauding economy and good house-wiferys 
are you over-solicitous about intermeddling 
with other people's affairs, she takes care al- 
ways to supply you with abundant food to 
keep alive this evil propensity. In short, do 

or say what you will r she never discovers 
19 



200 Lectures on 

the slightest concern about your improve- 
ment, either moral or intellectual. You can 
never be mistaken in setting down such a 
one, as entirely too selfish ever to be attach- 
ed to any body but herself. Your peace is 
deeply concerned in having as little as pos- 
sible to do with her; for of all the workers 
of mischief in social life, she leads the van. 
pre-eminently conspicuous* 

Next to the preceding, I behold iff 
imagination a motley group of individuals, 
among whom it would be hard to find any 
materials out of which to make a friend; 
having so many objectionable qualities both 
of mind and heart, that I scarcely know with 
which to begin. From those of irritable, 
quarrelsome, ungovernable tempers, you 
could never expeet much of the reciprocal 
enjoyments of friendship ; for being rarely 
at peace with themselves, it would be mo- 
rally impossible that they should long be so 
with you. The discontented and complain- 
ing, are too constantly and exclusively ab- 



Female Education. 201 

sorbed in their own thoughts and feelings to 
be capable either of entering into yours, — 
or of sympathizing in them sufficiently, to 
satisfy the just and rational claims of disin- 
terested regard. Those of suspicious and 
jealous tempers require more attention to all 
their unreasonable whims and caprices, than 
is compatible with a sentiment so confiding, 
and so fearless of such selfishness, as friend- 
ship. And as for the thoughtless, giddy, 
brainless butterflies — all dress and all show, 
that flutter about you, only in the halcyon 
days of health and prosperity; — why it 
would be extreme folly to believe them sus- 
ceptible of any other feeling, than the vain, 
preposterous admiration of their own worth- 
less persons; and the eager desire to capti- 
vate some of our sex, equally valueless with 
themselves. It would be nearly as rational 
to expect to make friends of so many parrots 
and peacocks. 1 need scarcely caution you 
against women of coarse, indelicate conver- 
sation; rude, masculine manners ; and ap- 
parently unfeeling hearts. They could not 



202 Lectures o» 

be made, even to comprehend the meaning 
of the word friend ; and are indeed, suffi- 
ciently repulsive of themselves to deter you 
from cultivating their acquaintance : they 
form a kind of intermediate class between 
the sexes; and are unfit either for male or 
female society. But there is— unfortunately 
for mankind, a description of women, of 
such a prepossessing exterior; — of such fas- 
cinating powers of conversation ; — in a word, 
so well calculated in every respect, to excite 
the admiration and regard of the young and 
inexperienced, that yon may contract a 
friendship for them, before you are at all 
aware of your danger. I allude to such as 
have no fixed principles of conduct; no set- 
tled rule of rectitude but such as the fashion 
of the day prescribes; — no aim in lift 4 , but 
to be admired for qualities, and attainments, 
whether good or bad, that attract most eclat; 
in fine, women who have no abiding sense 
of religion. That there are many such, is 
too true to be denied; but that there should 
he, is not less lamentable, than surprising. 



Female Education, 203 

For the situation of females in this life, un~ 
avoidably exposes them so much more than 
men, to all those various and complicated 
sufferings both of body and mind, for which 
there is no other alleviation nor cure, but 
religion 5 that a woman destitute of it, should 
be viewed almost as a monster in creation. 
Avoid all such, I implore you, as you would 
the contagion of pestilential disease: for 
however well established you may believe 
your own morals to be, they cannot long 
withstand the seductive influence of such 
companions, if admitted to all the intimacies 
and privileges of friendship. Let no part of 
the foregoing remarks be construed into a 
wish to palliate the want of religion in my 
own sex. As it regards another world, the 
obligation to possess it, is equally imperative 
upon both males and females. But it is cer- 
tainly true, that the forms, the customs, and 
prevalent opinions of society render it easy 
for men to do without reproach, or much loss 
of reputation, many things resulting from 
the want of religion, which would not, for 

}9* 



204 Lectures on 

a moment, be tolerated in women. These 
licenses also enable them, — by flying for re- 
fuge to many practises, altogether forbidden 
by society to the other sex, at least for a while 
to stifle, — if not entirely to subdue those com- 
punctious visitings of conscience which a 
merciful God has furnished as the best means 
of reclamation from vice. I could never 
see any other reason for this, but that men 
have more power in regulating and establish- 
ing publick opinion, than women: which 
power, to the eternal disgrace of the law- 
makers, they most shamefully abuse, to gloss 
over, and excuse, — if not openly to justify 
their own faults and vices; and in proportion 
as they have done this, to mark for ten-fold 
reprobation similar defects of character in 
your sex. This is selfishness, injustice, and 
meanness combined ; for in the eye of God, 
the degrees of criminality in vice can never 
depend on the sex of the perpetrator. 

But to return to the more pleasing theme 
of friendship. Would you know what a true 



Female Education. 205 

friend is, and how to secure such a one for 
life, take the following description ; and then 
use the utmost exertion to resemble the por- 
trait. For to render friendship lasting, there 
must be nearly equal excellence between the 
parties to such a union; although this excel- 
lence need not display itself precisely in the 
same mode. A true friend is one who can 
understand all your thoughts and actions ; 
can sincerely sympathize in all your feelings, 
whether of joy or of sorrow; and who will 
cling still closer to you when adversity frowns, 
or dangers threaten ; and when the pain of 
bodily disease, or the agony of mental afflic- 
tion crushes you to the earth, than during 
the festive season of uninterrupted prosperity. 
She must be warm-hearted, good-tempered, 
generous, easily appeased, unsuspicious, 
scrupulously regardful of truth and sincerity, 
cheerful, anxiously desirous both for your 
improvement and her own, and above all — 
of spotless morals. If you can have merit, 
and good fortune sufficient to secure the af- 
fections of one thus eminently gifted, you 



.206 Lectures on 

should treasure her up in your heart of 
hearts ; for her value is as inestimable, as \\ 
is uncommon. 

And now, my young friends, with re- 
spect to that still more important, and closer 
union of interests and affections, which all of 
you must wish to form, — should you marry, 
I have that to say, which it much behooves 
you to listen to with undivided attention. 
For although some years must yet elapse 
before many of you can be qualified duly to 
estimate the perilous nature of the engage- 
ment into which you will enter; — the ardu- 
ous and often afflicting duties you will have 
to fulfil; and above all, the sacred inviola- 
bility of the various and complicated obliga- 
tions which you will be solemnly pledged 
before your God, and the world to discharge; 
yet the subject is too intimately connected 
both with your temporal and eternal happi- 
ness to be altogether omitted in such an ad- 
dress as the present. The felicity which 
most persons, — especially young ones, antj-. 



Female Education* 207 

cipate from this union, is subject under the 
most fortunate circumstances, to so many 
casualties and painful interruptions, that 
should it be formed, (as is much too often 
the case,) from mere accidental and sudden 
liking, — where a pretty face, or handsome 
person is the only inducement; — from mere 
motives of convenience, avarice, or ambition; 
in a word, from any other exciting cause t 
than a thorough conviction of mutual regard 
founded upon a well ascertained congeniality 
of tastes, tempers, talents, and moral qual- 
ifications, — why, future misery must be the 
certain consequence, as well as the just re- 
ward of such a rash, and really immoral 
procedure. When we reflect how utterly 
impossible it is, for the married life to be 
even a tolerably happy one, without using 
the utmost precaution to guard against every 
circumstance which can mar its felicity; it 
seems truly unaccountable, unless we consi- 
der mankind nearly on a footing with the 
beasts that perish, that so many marriages 
should be contracted between parties who 



208 Lectures on 

appear utterly to disregard every considera- 
tion which should precede so all-important 
a change of condition. Would it be credi- 
ble, — if we had not daily observation of the 
fact, that beings capable of thought, reflec- 
tion, and judgment, should deliberately enter 
iuto a contract to endure until death; — a 
contract expressly stipulated to be for the 
mutual happiness of the parties concerned; 
and yet entirely neglect to ascertain before- 
hand, that both parties possessed the means 
indispensably necessary for its faithful fulfil- 
ment? When we look around us at the mul- 
titude of married people whom we know, 
and see how many are "paired, not match-? 
ed;" — how very few appear to have spent 
even a moment's thought on the foregoing 
momentous circumstance; it seems indeed, 
passing strange, that more of those who 
take the same step after them, should not 
derive more benefit from witnessing so many 
wo ful failures to attain the professed ob- 
ject — happiness. Yet we still continue to 
perceive the same most trivial, and often de 



Female Education. 2Qfy 

grading motives actuating the parties con- 
cerned. Thus the colour and fashion of a 
riband favourably disposed; — a song from 
the voice^ or some musical instrument; — a 
caper or two, successfully cut at a dance ; — 
a few stale, common-place-compliments 
about "rosy cheeks, lovely eyes, coral lips, 
ivory teeth, and alabaster skin," confided in 
pretended secrecy to some mutual friend, 
with the express design that they shall be 
repeated to the objects of them; often de- 
cide forever, the fate of the giddy hosts of 
fair Amandas, and their most devoted Cory- 
dons, whom we behold fluttering their little 
hour on the stage of life, and then vanishing 
forever. Blind as bats to every thing but 
the gratification of the moment, they appear 
totally unaware, that many of the conse- 
quences of these apparently insignificant, 
and evanescent circumstances, are to follow 
them into the regions of eternity, there to 
bear witness against them before a tribunal 
whose sentence is irreversible. 



210 Lettures on 

Sometimes the contiguity of landed es- 
tates makes a match. At other times, wealth 
of any kind on one side, and the want of it 
on the other, decide the great question to 
marry, or not to marry. Then again, a 
hiarriage is contracted for no better reason, 
than because the lady perhaps, is the daugh- 
ter of some great man; or the gentleman 
perchance, is a great man himself. But what 
is worse, if possible, than all, the desire to 
be revenged on a rival, or truant admirer; 
or the simple fear of living single, not unfre- 
quently settles the point. That disappoint- 
ment and misery for life should be the con- 
sequence of all such marriages, should be so 
far from exciting any surprise, that the real 
wonder is, how any of them thus made, can 
possibly turn out differently. Who that 
sows only tares, can ever expect to reap 
wheat? Who that makes their bed of thorns, 
can rationally calculate upon their turning 
into roses? In short, who that weds with fol- 
ly, or vice, has the smallest right to hope for 
the inestimable prize of wisdom, or of virtue? 



Female Education. 211 

For many ages matrimony has been 
equally the copious theme of ridicule and 
applause; nor would it be easy to decide 
whether its friends or enemies in speaking of 
it, have been guilty of the greatest exagge- 
rations; or have done most violence to the 
cause of truth. What may justly be said in 
its favour, is, that it is susceptible of much 
more happiness, than celibacy possibly can 
be. On the other hand, it may with equal 
truth be affirmed, that all the inconveniences, 
discomforts, and wretchedness of the last, 
are "tarts and cheese-cakes" (as Sancho 
Pania would say) compared to the miseries 
of married life, when accumulated in their 
greatest degree. As much the largest por- 
tion of these however, are of the parties own 
making, it will be their own fault, if they 
have to encounter them. Thus, for one source 
of unhappiness which can properly be called 
a visitation of Providence; there are one 
hundred that flow from the temper and con- 
duct of the husband and wife. It is quite 

enough, (for example,) to destroy every thing 
2<> 



212 Lectures on 

like domestick comfort, peace, and happiness 
where either the one, or the other, is of a pas- 
sionate, wrong-headed, tyrannical disposi- 
tion; and acts habitually in defiance of both 
moral, and religious law. But if both have 
the misfortune to be such characters, the 
place of their abode, resembles nothing in 
this world, or the next, but the place of the 
damned. Greatly then, does it behoove you 
to learn, not only how to calculate the 
chances, on the one hand, of forming such 
a union, as may bid fair to ensure all the fe- 
licity which may reasonably be anticipated 
from a marriage contracted under the most 
favourable auspices; but also how to estimate 
the danger, on the other hand, of one which 
prudence, and common sense, and good- 
morals, and religion — all forbid. Although 
it be as true as the gospel, that there are 
many more blanks than prizes in this lottery 
of matrimony, yet such is the sanguine in- 
credulity of most young persons, that no 
warning which mortal man can give, seems 
sufficient to assure them of the fact. Still, 



Female Education. 213 

as much of your happiness in this life cer- 
tainly; and of that in the life to come, pro- 
bably depends upon the choice you will 
make in this all-important event, I will not 
forbear, merely because so many other mo- 
nitors have failed, to suggest to you every 
consideration which appears to me likely to 
have the smallest influence in giving that 
choice a proper direction. 

The married state to be a happy one, 
should never be precipitately entered. It 
should always be with parental approbation 
on both sides; notwithstanding the moral 
code of some favourite romances and novels 
dispenses with this preliminary in so many 
cases, as almost to convert the exceptions 
into the general rule. Good temper, or the 
power of completely governing it, and good 
morals, with a decided personal preference, 
should be the indispensable basis of this 
union. Cheerfulness is another pre-requisite 
of no small importance. In fact, matrimony 
without it, is but a wearisome pilgrimage; 



214 Lectures on 

and if cursed with ill-temper, it ts the poi* 
soned shirt of Nessus, from the perpetual 
torment, and distraction of which, there is A 
do refuge for the wretched wearer, but in 
death. Above all things you should avoid 
the too common practice of expecting to 
find in real life, the same kind of characters 
so often delineated as heroes in the silly fic- 
tions which distract the minds of so many 
of your sex. Man at best, is but a very im- 
perfect animal; and the more you see and 
know of him, the greater allowances you will 
be compelled to make for his defects, his 
frailties, and his vices* The knowledge of 
this fact, and the proper application of it 
before marriage, would save many a bitter 
pang, and hysterical fit afterwards. It is of 
the greatest possible importance therefore, 
that you should early learn to moderate the 
sanguine hopes so natural to youth, in re- 
gard to their future prospects in life; to de- 
scend from the stilts on which your ardent 
imaginations are so prone to mount you,— 
like a parcel of tragedy-queens who look at 



Female Education. 215 

their present state of existence as a continued 
scene of sublimated enjoyment, or indescri- 
bable wretchedness ; and to take a plain, 
common-sense view of your probable con- 
dition. The first step necessary in order to 
acquire the power of doing so, is always to 
bear it in mind, that you yourselves are liable 
to the same, or equivalent deficiences of cha- 
racter, for which equal allowances must be 
made by whomsoever you may marry. Ano- 
ther great help towards gaining this most 
essential self-knowledge, would be, always to 
turn a deaf ear to any man who would try 
to persuade you, that such frail bipeds as 
yourselves, are really angels and goddesses. 
Should it ever be your misfortune to be 
obliged to listen to such language, you will 
never err in considering it, either the senseless 
rant of some demented boy who does not 
know you ; or the disgusting folly of some 
dotard, who had better be thinking of his 
grave ; or the contemptuous ridicule of one 
who means to laugh at you, as so many sil- 
ly dolls, destitute of understanding. 



216 Lectures on 

The great desiderata necessary to con- 
stitute suitable outfits for married life, are a 
tolerably good understanding, moderation 
forbearance, goodness of heart, self-control, 
and incorruptible morals. These are really 
worth the whole mass of those showy quali- 
fications, usually called accomplishments, 
with all the advantages of person and fortune 
put together. It would certainly be most 
desirable that all should be found united; but 
this coincidence so rarely occurs, that it 
would be madness in the extreme for each 
adventurer in matrimony to calculate on 
drawing such a prize. 

In addressing you on this subject, it is 
painful to think, that a regard for truth, 
should compel me to use a language so dif- 
ferent from that of a great majority of those 
books, which most young people, — and in- 
deed too many old ones, are so fond of pe- 
rusing. But the object of their authors be- 
ing very dissimilar to mine, our course must 
also be unlike. Their province is chiefly to 



Female Education. 217 

tickle your fancies, and delight your imagi- 
nations by fascinating, but exaggerated pic- 
tures of friendship, love, and marriage : mine 
is the far less grateful task of warning and 
guarding you against the shoals and quick- 
sands which lay thickly spread along the 
whole ocean of life, over the great expanse 
of whose waters, few, — very few ever sail 
without frequent exposure to the peril of 
storms, tornadoes, and shipwreck. Should 
I so far succeed, as to produce conviction 
on a single mind, that my cautions are wor- 
thy of attention : — should I have power to de- 
ter even one from venturing within the verge 
of that giddy whirlpool of folly which irrevo- 
cably swallows up all who have the temerity to 
pass the edge of its destructive vortex : — 
should I be able to save a single victim from 
the misery of disregarding all those admo- 
nitory precepts relative to the conduct of hu- 
man beings as moral agents, which so many 
writers in every age, have appeared to reite- 
rate to little, or no good purpose; I shall 
deem myself amply rewarded for every pos- 



218 Lectures on 

sible exertion which I either have made, or 
can make, towards the attainment of so glo- 
rious an end. But to return to my principal 
subject. 

As I have endeavoured to convince yon, 
that to render the married life even tolerably 
comfortable, qualities for use, rather than for 
show, should always be preferred, wherj 
both cannot be found united; I must on the 
same principle, notice some very essenti \\ 
ones not yet enumerated. These are, per- 
sonal courage to protect you from danger ; 
indefatigable industry to provide, and a pru- 
dent economy to take care of the means ne- 
cessary for comfortable subsistence. The 
two last are particularly important; because 
their exercise is a matter of daily necessity ; 
— no fortune, however enormous, being suf- 
ficient to withstand the waste of continual 
neglect and profusion. Without these qual- 
ities, you may possibly, enjoy a few months, 
perhaps years of thoughtless, empty plea- 
sure, (as it is most falsely called,) in which 



Female Education* 219 

intellect has little or no concern ; and which 
has about an equal right with the delirium 
of intoxication, to be called happiness. But 
should you have long life, you must calcu- 
late with absolute certainty on many, — many 
years of discontent, repining, poverty, and 
wretchedness, aggravated probably, by mu- 
tual upbraiding and reproach. 

Among the numerous causes which mar 
the felicity of wedlock, I must not omit one 
of the most common, as well as the least ex- 
cusable of all : — I mean the petty, truly con- 
temptible squabbles and quarrels about pre- 
rogative. In other words, the very unpro- 
fitable contest to prove, (as 'tis vulgarly 
gaid,) whether or not " the gray mare is the 
better horse." Of all the follies which mar- 
ried people can possibly commit, this is by 
far the greatest; for both must be losers no 
matter who gains the victory. The princi- 
ple of fear and dread is substituted for that 
of mutual confidence ; and domestick com- 
fort and happiness are sacrificed for the pal- 



220 Lectures on 

try consideration of being able to say: "J 
am master, or / am mistress." If the wife 
gets the better, she fails to elevate herself in 
the opinion either of her own sex, or ours; 
at the same time that she degrades her hus- 
band in the eyes of all. He, poor devil, 
from the perpetual consciousness of the pre- 
dicament in which he stands, and of the nuts 
which he always furnishes for the sisterhood 
of gossips, sneaks about like a dog after 
committing some theft, for which he expects 
to be soundly whipt. He is even in a much 
worse situation than a publick functionary 
who holds his post "during good beha- 
viour." For although his office of husband, 
— legally considered, is held by a somewhat 
more durable tenure; yet the privilege usu- 
ally appurtenant thereto, of remaining in his 
own house, sitting at his own table, and by 
his own fire-side in peace and quietness, 
rests on a much more precarious depen- 
dence: — to wit, the whim, caprice, and un- 
accountable, ever-changing humours of a — 
shrew. As you hope for happiness in this 



Female Education. 221 

life, I warn you, my young friends, never 
to aspire to such distinction; but be content, 
when you marry, to let the chief control of 
family concerns remain where the laws both 
of God and man have placed it. No con- 
troversy on this subject need ever occur, for 
none will ever be necessary, if both parties 
will only study to please; and mutually 
endeavour to promote each other's enjoy- 
ments. 

I cannot, I believe, conclude this Lec- 
ture better, than by making it my last admo- 
nition, most earnestly to dissuade you from 
ever adopting a course of conduct which 
many of your sex appear to think — at least 
justifiable, if not altogether praise-worthy, 
before marriage. It has been glossed over 
by the very specious term coquetry; but 
stripped of all disguise, it is neither more, 
nor less, than an artful mixture of hypocrisy, 
fraud, treachery, and falsehood : — far more 
disgraceful to those who practise it, than de- 
grading to the individuals practised upon. 



222 Lectures on 

Should an honourable declaration of love 
ever be made to you, nothing can palliate an 
attempt at deception on your part. A plain 
question propounded in truth and sincerity 
of heart, always deserves an equally sincere, 
and plain answer. Nor does it matter in the 
smallest degree, what may be the character 
and condition of the gentleman addressing 
you, — if it be such as to authorize his being 
heard at all; — the truly honourable course 
for the lady addressed, is the direct, straight 
forward, unequivocal one, of acceptance, or 
rejection. Let it be done, (if you please,) 
with all the bashfulness, and timidity, and 
thankfulness for good opinion, &c. 8ic. 
which the books prescribe, as the genuine 
etiquette upon such embarrassing occasions; 
but at the same time, with all the candour, 
and singleness of heart due to the sacred 
cause of truth, and good faith. It never was 
nor can be right on any occasion whatever,— 
much less on one which may involve both 
present, and future happiness or misery, to 
practise duplicity: — to say one thing, and 



Female Education* 223 

mean another : — to act as if you meant to 
trust, and wished to be trusted, when your 
sole purpose is first to inveigle, — -then to be- 
tray, and finally to abandon the deceived 
object of so much criminal artifice* But let 
those who cannot be persuaded to avoid such 
conduct from principle, listen to a few rea- 
sons which may be urged in favour of its 
avoidance, as a matter of policy. They may 
rest assured, that there are among our sex, 
a sufficient number of adepts in these villain* 
ous arts, (for they deserve no better name,) 
to retaliate with compound interest, all the 
injuries which yours can possibly inflict in 
this way; and nothing will sooner provoke 
the diabolical disposition to perpetrate them, 
than an}' manifestation on your part, of an 
inclination to play the coquette. Beware 
then, for heaven's sake, beware, my yet in- 
nocent young friends, how you venture on 
so perilous a game. Do not, — Oh ! do not 
yield to the smallest temptation thus to sport 
with your happiness under the illusory, and 
21 



224 f Lectures on 

wofully deceptive notion, that such indul- 
gence, (should it indeed appear one,) may 
be taken in the vernal season of youth, with- 
out the imminent hazard of blasting forever, 
all the fair prospects of the summer, autumn, 
and winter of your lives. 

Should it be the lot of all who now 
hear me, to reach the period of mature age, 
but a few years — (comparatively speaking) 
remain, even to the youngest, before that pe- 
riod will be at hand. To each, it will be the 
great scene of trial and of duty; and upon 
yourselves chiefly it must depend, — after all 
that others can do for you, whether this scene 
will prove a voyage of delightful discovery 
and pleasurable occupation; or a toilsome 
pilgrimage beset with difficulties, dangers, 
and disappointments,— commencing in fever- 
ish disquietudes, and ending in misery and 
wo. Death itself is not more inevitable, than 
such a destiny to all who despise the warn- 
ing voice of instruction; who practise n« 



Female Education. 225 

self-restraint : who seek no intellectual 
improvement; — who fail to cherish con- 
tinually the love of wisdom, and of virtue, 
as their surest friend both for time and 
eternity. 



UHMraua fia 



<* 



Recapitulation and Conclusion. 

The Lectures on Education which I 
promised you, my young friends, sometime 
ago, are at last finished. All that now re- 
mains for me to do, is to recall to your minds 
the substance of what has been said ; and to 
endeavour by a brief recapitulation, so to im- 
press the chief topicks on your hearts, that 
they may have an abiding influence on your 
lives. May God grant me the power of doing 
this to the extent of my wishes : for never 
then, will airy of you be destitute, — wherever 
your lot may be cast, of any of the resources 
of "mind, body, or estate" essential to your 
enjoyment in this world, or to your happU 

ness in the next. 
01* 



228 Lecture* on 

As there are some among you whom I 
shall address for the last time in our lives, I 
most earnestly hope that they at least, will feel 
the same anxiety to receive, that I do to im- 
part, whatever benefit my farewell admoni- 
tions may be capable of communicating. This 
request, I solemnly assure you, is not lightly 
made, as mere words of course. It is uttered 
under the influence of a sentiment of deep 
solicitude for your temporal and eternal wel- 
fare, inspired by the reflection that the all- 
important trust of your Education has been 
confided, for a considerable time past, to 
those to whom I am bound by all the strong- 
est ties which can unite human beings toge- 
ther; and with whom I have felt, and still 
feel a deep common interest in promoting 
your happiness. For your own sakes then, 
as well as for ours, and for the love of all 
who are most endeared to you in this world, 
let me beseech you not to suffer this last ap- 
peal to be made in vain. But a few minutes 
will be occupied in uttering it; and only a 
few, fleeting hours can pass away, before 



Female Education. 229 

most of us must part, and some — probably 
forever. 

It will be recollected, I trust, that my 
first object was, to convince you that the ba- 
sis of all excellence was, to live under the 
constant conviction of the moral and religious 
obligation to improve our time, as much as 
possible; to neglect none of the faculties 
which an infinitely wise and benevolent God 
has given us, — manifestly for the purpose of 
cultivating them to their highest degree of 
attainable perfection; — which degree he has 
evidently left indefinite, that our exertions to 
reach it, should never cease but with life : 
and to exercise continually, the chief of these 
faculties — our reason, in selecting and ap- 
plying the best means in our power for the ac- 
complishment of this all-important end. Can 
it be necessary to urge any other arguments, 
than those heretofore used, to prove to you, 
that this duty of moral and religious improve- 
ment is paramount to all others ? Unless this 
le first fulfilled, is it not evident to every one, 



230 Lectures on 

that the gift of rationality itself, must prove 
our heaviest curse, instead of our Greatest 
blessing ? For does it not compel us to believe, 
that the all-wise God who made us, could 
have bestowed this inestimable boon for no 
other purpose, than to enable us clearly to 
discern that happiness was to be found in no 
other path, but the path of duty; and of 
course, that whenever we depart from it; 
whenever we act in opposition to the dictates 
of that reason bestowed for our guidance 
therein, we convict ourselves of the most cri- 
minal rebellion against the adorable giver of 
the benefaction? We cannot open our eyes 
upon a single object of the universe ; nor 
contemplate for a moment, any of those ways 
of Providence which we are capable of un- 
derstanding, without being instantly struck 
with the persuasion, that a God of wisdom, 
of mercy, and of love, — such as we believe 
our God to be, must have willed the happi- 
ness of all his creatures: and that so far as 
we come under this general dispensation, we 
are bound by every possible motive that can 



Female Education. 251 

bind the Creature to the Creator, not only 
not to counteract by disobedience, such uni* 
versal benevolence, but to do every thing it* 
our power to accomplish, as co-workers with 
the Lord and Father of all, his magnificent 
and truly Godlike design. But could we be 
guilty of any greater act of disobedience or 
counteraction ; could we commit any greater 
outrage against omnipotence, (unless by the 
perpetration of some heinous crime,) than by 
habitually devoting our most precious time 
to utter idleness ;— to frivolous occupations 5 
— to selfish and sensual indulgences ? Surely 
nothing could be more opposite to the great 
purposes for which we were evidently cre-» 
ated ; — nothing more disgraceful to our na* 
ture ; — nothing more repugnant to the course 
which reason, and duty, and conscience 
point out. For heaven sake then, my young 
friends, cherish, improve, and forever hold 
fast the belief in the absolute necessity of 
your moral and religious obligations to the 
continual culture of all your faculties, as the 
foundation of every scheme which you may 



232 Lectures on 

form for your future lives. Let this belief 
be your constant guide through all time, and 
the great beacon, the polar star, which is to 
direct your steps to the regions of eternity. 

The means which I have endeavoured to 
point out, as essential to the fulfilment of the 
foregoing observations, you may perhaps 
remember ; but lest you should not recollect 
them, as thoroughly as I wish, I will once 
more present them to your view. These 
were, a constant readiness to follow the di- 
rections, and obey the injunctions of those 
whom you believe qualified to advise, and 
prescribe the course which you should pur- 
sue in your Education : to neglect none of 
the modes placed before you for facilitating 
the progress of your studies ; — to read dili- 
gently and indefatigable: — to seek the con- 
versation of persons better informed than 
yourselves, rather than those who could give 
you no useful information : — to devote no 
more time to amusements, than is sufficient 
for relaxation and health : — always to aspire 



Female Education* £33 

to moral and intellectual excellence, without 
the slightest jealousy or envy of those en- 
gaged in similar pursuits : — never to pro- 
crastinate, nor go indolently, nor reluctantly 
to work in the discharge of any duty what- 
ever : and to pray with fervent sincerity for 
heavenly aid in all your undertakings. If 
you will assiduously follow these injunctions, 
and faithfully carry them into constant prac- 
tice, you will as certainly succeed, as that 
you have life, in securing the love and affec- 
tion of every one connected with you; — the 
inestimable approbation of your own consci- 
ence; — and a "mansion of rest" among the 
wise and the good in the world to come. 

Temper and Deportment were the next 
topicks, in the due consideration of which I 
endeavoured to interest you. And it was my 
earnest effort to convince you, that without a 
proper regulation and command of the first; 
and a strict, as well as constant attention 
to the second; all attempts at Education 
amount to nothing better, than a shameful, 



234 Lectures on 

and wicked waste of time and money. Will 
you permit me to hope that I have succeed- 
ed in producing this conviction ? Or am I 
to suffer the mortification of uttering this 
farewell address, under the painful disap- 
pointment of all my anxious wishes on this 
deeply interesting subject ? Shall our invio- 
lable regard for truth compel us, in restor- 
ing any of you to your parents, to commu- 
nicate the heart-rending intelligence that all 
theif anxious hours, their cares, their la- 
bours, and their prayers for the welfare of 
their children are likely to prove abortive 5 
because they have been equally deaf to 
friendly admonition, and earnest reproof ? 
Must ours be the distressing duty of blasting 
the fond anticipations of parental love, by 
informing them, that all the bad passions, 
and evil dispositions which they anxiously 
hoped to find removed by a course of moral, 
and literary instruction ; instead of being 
entirely subdued, had only grown with the 
growth, and strengthened with the strength 
of the, children of their bosom ? Or will 



Female Education. 235 

you authorize us to be the delighted " mes- 
sengers only of glad tidings . ? " Has your 
general conduct been such, as to justify us 
in saying to each parent; — " here, my friend, 
receive from our hands the child of your 
love ; — take her to your arms, and wear her 
next your heart ; for she has amply fulfilled 
all your expectations. She has " fought the 
good fight ;" — she has conquered whatever 
was amiss both in her temper and deport- 
ment ; — she has seen her errours, and firmly 
resolved to depart from them. She is now, 
anxiously desirous, and resolutely determin- 
ed to reward all your cares, your love, and 
your affection by devoting herself to your 
happiness for the remainder of your days." 
Contrast, I beseech you, — contrast the feel- 
ings of all the parties concerned, upon the 
final separation which must take place be* 
tween us, when you quit this school for the 
last time, and then ask your hearts, which 
part you will leave to us to perform ? For 
rely on it, that our report to your parents, or 
other friends, must be to the very letter, the 

one, or the other, according as you have 
23 



236 Lectures on 

conducted yourselves during your residence 
with us. Your own recollections must re- 
mind you how often this event of severance 
between your teachers, and yourselves, and 
restoration to your homes, has been present- 
ed to your imaginations. Nor can you have 
forgotten how frequently you have been in- 
treated so to act you?- part ; — so to fulfil all 
your duties, that the only remaining duty 
we should have to perform, might be to tes- 
tify with unalloyed pleasure, how well you 
have merited all the caresses and endear- 
ments prepared for you in the several do- 
mestick circles of which you are once more 
to become members. Oh ! that yon would 
yet give some pledge, (if you have not al- 
ready done so,) upon the faith of which we 
might assure those who may come for you, 
that the fondest hopes of your relatives and 
friends are accomplished. Save us, we im- 
plore you, from the inexpressibly painful al- 
ternative of suppressing the truth, of which 
we cannot be guilty ; or of communicating 
the heart-piercing fact, that all these hopes 
have been blighted and lost I 



Female Education. 23* 

If any of you really have had bad 
tempers, and have strenuously exerted your- 
selves to subdue them ; if your deportment 
has been, only occasionally reprehensible, 
while you have manifestly endeavoured ge- 
nerally, to render it what it should be, — the 
deportment of a lady in principle, as well as 
conduct ; we shall take the greatest pleasure 
in representing the fact to the friends or con- 
nexions who may come to take you home. 
On the contrary, — if no effectual attempt 
has been made to acquire self-control ; — if 
bad passions have been indulged without re- 
straint ; — if little, or no regard to lady-like 
conduct and demeanour, has been manifest- 
ed, except in short and fleeting promises of 
amendment, — why, painful as the task may 
be, we shall not hesitate to perform it. Your 
parents, and other relatives must be informed, 
at whatever cost of feelings to them and to us, 
that their money, and their care, their la- 
bours, and their love, have been equally 
thrown away, with our lessons, and our 
advice, our persuasions and our reproofs. 
Heaven forbid, that the latter duty should 



238 Lectures on 

be ours ; but it will depend entirely upon 
yourselves, whether it will, or not. If it be 
your choice, rather to break a parent's heart 
than to prove their comfort and delight while 
living, and the last, the most beloved ob- 
jects of their dying benedictions, — thus it 
must be ; on your own heads will rest all the 
sin ; in your own bosoms will be all the ago- 
ny, when no near connexion, no dear friend 
shall be left to witness your degradation, and 
deplore your guilt. 

The Foibles, Faults, and Vices of your 
sex ; were the next defects of character 
against which I undertook to warn you. How 
far I have succeeded, your own hearts must 
say. For although I should require no bet- 
ter evidence, than my own senses to satisfy 
me in regard to the diminution, or increase 
of those defects which show themselves in 
conversation, and general conduct, — such 
as idleness, inattention to your studies, pas- 
sionate and quarrelsome dispositions ; coarse, 
rude, and unlady-like conversation ; boister- 
ous, vulgar and indecorous deportment 5 yet 



Female Education. 239 

there are many others, still more censurable; 
such as pride, vanity, selfishness, extrava- 
gance, envy, hatred, malice and uncharita- 
bleness, which can be known in all their na- 
tive deformity, only to those who have the 
misfortune to labour under them. Where 
these have free scope, they rarely fail to do 
some injury to the objects of them ; and they 
invariably inflict much suffering, and ofteii 
misery on the agents themselves. How far 
you have guarded against these deadly ene- 
mies to your peace and happiness, is a mat- 
ter which you must answer to your own con- 
sciences, and to your God. If you have 
yielded without effort to their influence ; if 
you have suffered them to corrupt your prin- 
ciples, and poison your hearts, it will not be 
for the want of abundant warning, and timely 
importunities on our part, to avoid, — if you 
had them not, and to resist and conquer them, 
if you had. What earthly advantage could 
you promise yourselves from their indul- 
gence ? What possible benefit could you 
hope for, by giving way to their impulses ? 
you might, perchance, gratify some feeling 

22* 



240 Lectures on 

which you would be ashamed to acknow- 
ledge ;-— you might perhaps give pain to oth- 
ers, and impart a malignant, diabolical grati- 
fication to yourselves ; but to expect from so 
corrupt a source, any such pleasure, as would 
be worthy of a rational and moral agent, 
would be to calculate on inhaling aromatick 
odours from a carcase in the last stage of 
decay ; and upon converting the hellish de- 
formity of vice, into the heavenly beauty of 
virtue. Remember then, — for the love of 
your own souls, remember, my dear young 
friends, that you cannot possibly exercise too 
much vigilance in guarding against the most 
distant approaches of every foible, fault, and 
vice, against which I have endeavoured to 
guard you. Yield yourselves to no one of 
them; for such is the close connexion between 
them, that you will be in continual danger 
of having the whole family quartered on you 
for life, to prey upon your very vitals, until, 
you are consumed both body and soul. On 
the other hand, deny yourself at home to the 
first intruder, and you will daily be in less, 
and less peril from such dangerous visitors. 



Female Education. 241 

The subjects of Manners, Accomplish- 
ttients, and Conversation came next in the 
order of these Lectures : and much was said 
on each which I trust you will not soon for- 
get. On the first will greatly depend the 
good, or ill reception you will meet with in 
society. Like musick, they may well be 
said to have "charms to sooth the savage 
breast." If they are such, as should dis- 
tinguish every lady ; and without which in- 
deed, none can pretend to that character; it 
will be no easy matter to prescribe limits to 
your influence; for good manners exercise 
almost a despotick control over all mankind. 
But should they be such as every lady would 
be ashamed of; — neglect, and degradation, 
and scorn, and avoidance must inevitably be 
your portion ; as well as the just reward of 
your contempt of publick opinion. With 
respect to accomplishments, generally so 
called, I have said that you should consider 
them, as nothing more than conventional 
passports to good society ;-^— not absolutely 
necessary, but useful to possess: That you 
should devote to their acquirement, only 



242 Lectures on 

such a portion of your time, as would make 
them rather recreations, than labours: and 
that some should not be attempted at all* 
without a decided talent for them : such, for 
example, as drawing, painting, and musick. 
If you can restrain yourselves within these 
limits in your endeavours to attain them ; I 
take the liberty to say, that there is nothing, 
— either in morality, or religion, which for- 
bids their acquisition. But beware not to 
make a business of what should be, only 
your occasional pleasure. Beware, lest you 
devote to the training and disciplining of 
your limbs, any part of that precious period, 
which should be occupied solely, in the im- 
provement of your immortal souls. Ever 
remember that " there is a time for all 
things :" — and that no encroachment should 
be made by the requirements of the body, 
on that portion properly assigned to the 
wants of the intellect. 

The topick on which I last endeavoured 
to give you some salutary lessons, was the 
highly important and interesting one of As- 



Female Education. 243 

sociates, Friends, and Connexions. And it 
was then, as it still is, my most earnest wish 
to impress your minds with the fixed belief, 
that your happiness both in this life, and the 
next, very materially depends upon the kind 
of choice you may make in selecting them. 
Should they be persons of amiable disposi- 
tions, good sense, cultivated understandings, 
and pure morals, you may reasonably cal- 
culate on realizing all the enjoyments which 
can be derived from social intercourse in all 
its various relations of casual acquaintance, 
well tried friendship, and wedded love. But 
if you entirely disregard all moral and intel- 
lectual qualifications; and are guided by 
nothing better than, whim, caprice, or acci- 
dental liking in your choice either of com- 
panions, friends, or nearer connexions; you 
cannot possibly escape all the usual conse- 
quences of such folly. —These are, — ruin of 
fame, fortune, and peace of mind in very 
many cases; and much disappointment, 
mortification, or suffering in all. "The same 
free cannot produce both good fruit and 



244 Lectures on 

bad;" — the same fountain can never yield 
sweet and bitter waters, at the same time. 

Let your reason and judgment then, 
ever direct you more than your feelings, in 
the choice both of your temporary com- 
panions, and of those with whom you expect 
to spend the greater part of }'Our lives. Still 
your hopes may possibly, be frustrated ; for 
all human calculations are liable to errour : 
but the strong probability is, that they will 
be attained to the full extent of all rational 
expectation, if you will not only strive sin- 
cerely and earnestly to render your own 
tempers, manners, morals and intellectual ac- 
quirements such as they should be; but will 
seek similar qualifications in all those with 
whom you calculate on maintaining any per- 
manent intercourse. 

My task is finished, and the hour is at 
hand, when we must part ; — many of us pro- 
bably, to meet no more on this side the grave. 
All that now remains to be done, is, to in- 
quire whether you will suffer us, your very 



Female Education. 245 

sincere friends, to bid yon a last adieu, under 
the full persuasion, that you have treasured 
up for future use, all the good advice, and 
all the knowledge which your teachers have 
endeavoured without ceasing, to impress on 
your minds. Do not, — Oh ! do not leave us 
in doubt, either as to the sincerity of your 
promises, — the firmness of your resolves, or 
the power of your wills to realize the anxious 
hopes, and fond anticipations of your parents 
and friends in regard to your future conduct 
and characters in life. For pity sake, im- 
bitter not the remainder of their days, by 
any neglect of duty on your part; nor blast 
those delightful expectations which they have 
so long, and so tenderly cherished of your 
future worth, by shewing that you have 
equally abused their confidence ; despised 
their admonitions; and utterly wasted the 
best portion of that precious period allotted 
to mental culture, which when once lost, can 
never be recalled. But continue, I beseech 
and implore you, for the last time, to im- 
prove both your hearts and understandings 
by the acquisition of all the amiable qualities. 



246 Lectures on Female Education. 

and estimable endowments which can adorn 
the one, or embellish the other. Let this 
be your continual aim; — let this be your 
unceasing pursuit; — for such is the impera- 
tive command,- — the irreversible decree of 
God himself. And instead of the giddy, 
thoughtless, idle nothings, which but too 
many of your sex turn out, after leaving 
school; you may prove, during life, the 
pride, the ornament, and blessings of socie- 
ty, — beloved and esteemed by all who know 
you: — and when you die, you will have 
every reasonable hope of finding favour with 
that ever merciful and omnipotent God, who 
hath promised unutterable bliss "to all who 
do his will on earth, as it is in heaven." 

May the Lord, and father of us all, 
grant to each of you the will, as well as the 
power to realize such a destiny, both here 
and hereafter. 

Elm- Wood, Essex County, Virginia. 






cxxxxxx: xx 

if) 



xxxxxxx 

23 



SECOKD SERIES 



OF 



LECTURES 



— ^©^— 

LECTURE VIII. 

The same earnest desire, my young 
friends, to see you continually improve in 
"every good word and work," which induced 
me to address to you, my first Lectures on Fe- 
male Education, has led me to undertake a 
second course. And I have thought it best 
to commence it, while the parting benedic- 
tions, — the last looks of the parents and 
friends whom you left behind, are fresh in 
your memories; — while the good resolutions 
which you must have then formed, (if you 
have any hearts,) not to disappoint their 



250 Lectures on 

hopes, must be still glowing in your bosoms; 
— and while no temptation can yet have oc- 
curred to banish from your minds the fixed 
purpose formed under the influence of such 
feelings, to repay their anxious cares, their 
unremitting kindness, and constant affection, 
by all the gratitude you- are capable of man- 
ifesting ; and by all the application to your 
studies that you can possibly exert. To 
many of you I address myself as a stranger, 
to whose advice you can have no particular 
reason for lending a favourable ear ; altho* 
I see around me several, in regard to whom 
I feel assured, that, from past experience, 
they must fully confide in the sincerity of 
my wishes to promote and secure their hap- 
piness by all the means in my power. Let 
me hope, that you too, my youthful auditors, 
to whom I am still unknown, will as yet, take 
it upon trust, that I feel not less solicitude on 
your account, than I do for such of your 
comrades, as have the advantage, (if it be any) 
of a previous acquaintance. Permit me then, 
to expect, that all of you will alike endeavour, 



Female Education. 251 

for the short time during which I shall ask 
your attention, to withdraw your thoughts 
from all other considerations; and fix them 
on the various means which I shall suggest 
for your own advancement in such studies 
and pursuits as are best calculated to im- 
prove your hearts, and enlighten your un- 
derstandings. 

It is highly useful, — indeed, absolutely 
necessary to success, both in the commence- 
ment and prosecution of any undertaking, 
to understand thoroughly, not only the mo- 
tives under the influence of which we act; 
but the objects at which we aim: and in no- 
thing can this be more important, than in the 
business of Education. Yet how few, — very 
few, in proportion to the whole number sent 
to school for this purpose, seem to have form- 
ed any adequate conception, in regard either 
to the one, or the other. And even where 
this preliminary self-knowledge appears to 
exist in a sufficient degree, it is often quite 
inefficient, owing either to some fatal perver 
23* 



.252 Lectures on 

sity in our nature; or to an invincible repug- 
nance to do what we ought to do, and what 
we know to be right. That this is certainly 
true, every one must be convinced, who will 
examine with an attentive eye, the promis- 
cuous multitude of those who are said to have 
" finished their educations" at some one or 
other of the various schools scattered over our 
country. For with here and there a few ex- 
ceptions, — like the spots of verdure in an 
African desert, nearly all else will be found 
an arid, cheerless, unprofitable barren; or a 
wilderness overgrown with noxious weeds, 
demonstrating at once, the original fertility 
of the soil, and the lamentably injudicious 
modes of culture which have been pursued; 
or the total neglect of every thing like cul- 
tivation. To what fatal cause is this heart- 
sickening fact to be ascribed? Is it to the 
pupils, or to their teachers; — to the methods 
of instruction % or to the general aversion to 
follow them, that we must look for this de- 
plorable waste of all that precious period, 
during which alone, the seeds of useful 



Female Education, 253 

knowledge can be sown, with any rational 
prospect of producing an abundant harvest 
of goodly products? Although it must be 
acknowledged that our schools are neither 
as numerous, nor as excellent, as they ought 
to be -, and that much room for their improve- 
ment is still discernible, yet, I fear, that after 
making every possible concession and allow- 
ance compatible with truth, we shall be com- 
pelled to say, that the chief fault is in the 
scholars, and not in the teachers. Whether 
this fault be ascribable to very early errours 
committed by their first instructors; or to 
some natural aversion to learning, I shall 
not stop here to inquire. The notoriety of 
the fact is sufficient for my present purpose. 
Among the first of my early recollections, 
none is more distinct, than the great general 
dislike of the companions of my boyhood 
for school, and almost every thing connected 
with it. Subsequent experience has uniform- 
ly presented me with the same discouraging 
truth ; which stands confirmed by all the re-^ 
cords that are known to us, of the progres- 



254 Lectures on 

of the human mind from infancy to old age. 
Shakspeare, who ma} 7 justly be called its 
greatest delineator and painter, has added 
his testimony to thousands of other authors, 
in his memorable picture of the different 
stages of human life, in one of which man 
is porti^ed, as the shining faced school- 
boy, with satchel on his arm— 

" Creeping 1 like snail, unwillingly to school." 

And none of us in the present day, — can 
take a transient glance through any of the 
places of instruction, while the business of 
teaching is going on, without being forcibly 
struck with the many doleful, — if not actually 
miserable visages with which they abound. 
Should the general prevalence of this malady, 
which may well be designated biblophobia, 
appear to any young persons a sufficient ex- 
cuse for their being infected with it ; let them 
reflect on the other hand, how greatly this 
enhances, — how highly it exalts the honour 
of being exempt from it. 



Female Education. 255 

Are any of you, my young friends, thu> 
grievously afflicted with this biblophobia, — 
the meaning of which is, (should you be at a 
loss for it,) a similar horrour of books, to that 
which mad dogs are supposed to feel at water; 
let me endeavour to explain to you the cause, 
and to furnish some medicine which can ef- 
fect your cure. You are thus distressed, be- 
cause you do not distinctly understand, either 
the motives with which you act, or the objects 
at which you aim. You look upon going to 
school, as an infringement of your liberty; — •' 
as a thing rather to be suffered and endured, 
because your parents and guardians command 
it, than to be sought and zealously pursued, 
because, in fact, it is principally, — if not sole- 
ly, for your own benefit, your own reputation, 
and your own happiness, that it should never 
be neglected. Some appear to think, that 
all they have to do, in the great work of in- 
struction, is to remain entirely passive, and 
merely to listen to the words addressed to 
them, without any effort to retain them in their 
minds and reduce them to practice. This is 



25(5 Lectures on 

to perform a part very little better, than so 
many empty casks, which receive all things 
that are poured into them, whether they be 
valuable, or utterly worthless. There cannot 
well be a more fatal mistake, than such entire 
reliance upon the power of our teachers to 
impart knowledge. In fact, much the greater 
part of the business of Education depends 
upon ourselves; for many, — very many self- 
taught individuals have, from time to time 
appeared in the world, who have been nearly 
as much celebrated for their acquirements and 
full as highly esteemed for their virtues, as 
any of those, who have enjoyed the advanta- 
ges of what is called a regular, systematick 
course in the greatest universities. Without 
the constant endeavour to learn on our part, 
neither books, nor teachers can render us 
scarcely any service; but where this desire 
exists in an adequate degree,— raided by good 
instructors, all may be accomplished in re- 
gard to education, which ought to be at- 
tempted. Another great mistake committed 
by many pupils, is, that they consider the 



Female Education. 257 

control exercised over them, as a usurpation 
of authority, which their pride, their honour, 
and fancied independence, — all call upon 
them either to resist openly ; or to endeavour 
to thwart by every artifice that ingenuity can 
contrive, and by all the provocations which 
petulance, idleness, and pretended incapaci- 
ty can excite. Others seem to think school 
the proper place for indulging themselves in 
every kind of wild prank, and rude, mis- 
chievous trick, which buoyant spirits, and 
unrestrained, culpable inclinations, can stimu- 
late them to commit. And these highly cen- 
surable irregularities of conduct they excuse 
to themselves, under the delusive notion, 
that they are nothing more than harmless 
proofs of gay, lively dispositions ; — that they 
can leave them off when they please ; — and 
that if they do not indulge them now, the 
time will soon come, (that is, immediately 
upon leaving school,) when publick sentiment 
will no longer tolerate them. Thus, under 
the name of innocent frolick, young persons 
of both sexes, not unfrequently perpetrate 



258 Lectures on 

acts, which by the laws of man are stigma- 
tized as crimes, and by the laws of God, are 
denounced as deadly sins. The circum- 
stance of these acts being committed during 
the period which should be devoted to learn- 
ing, is but a poor, and utterly futile paliation. 
For the moment we are capable of under- 
standing the great distinctions between right 
and wrong, — no matter how young we may 
be, we become subject to all the moral re- 
sponsibility which can attach to rational, 
and accountable beings. I will adduce on- 
ly two exemplifications. The taking of that 
(it is immaterial what,) which belongs to 
another, without the knowledge, or consent 
of the owner, is neither more nor less, than 
theft in a grown person ; and what else can 
it be in a youth ? An untruth told hy adults, 
with an intention to deceive, is on all hands, 
called a lie. Ought it to bear any other 
name, if told by a person not grown ?■ Dis- 
grace, infamy, imprisonment, and often 
death, are the just punishments awarded by 
law, and publick sentiment to all of a certain 



Female Education. 2')[) 

age, who commit sucli crimes. And shall 
f hose who are not beyond the years of pupil- 
age, be, not only entirely exempt from all 
these dreadful consequences; but even escape 
all injury to their characters, merely because 
they are going to school? Such escape is ut- 
terly impossible; for although our friends, 
connexions, and intimate companions, may 
be ready and willing to make every possible 
excuse for every act which can be fairly as- 
cribable to the natural thoughtlessness and 
levity of youth; yet should it be our misfor- 
tune, even when very young, to commit any 
deed whatever, which indicates a real want 
oC moral principle, some disgraceful stigma 
will as inevitably attach to our characters, as 
that fire will burn, if we hold our fingers in it. 
The formation of character commences, in 
fact, with our earliest years. We can never, 
therefore, begin too soon, to cultivate all the 
good qualities and virtues, which are essen- 
tial to this great purpose of our existence. 
We should ever study to make these charac- 
ters as spotless as the snows of heaven ; and 
24 



260 Lectures on 

to keep it always in mind that there are nu- 
merous faults, vices, and crimes, with which, 
if we once suffer them to be deeply imbued, 
not all the waters of the deluge itself could 
wash them out. The foregoing, are very 
strong cases, and stated, (you will perhaps 
say,) with too much plainness of speech ; but 
I most earnestly implore you, not to think 
them stronger, than their importance requires. 
Would you maintain, through life, characters 
of unsullied purity, and innocence, (as, I trust 
in God, you ever will,) you must always hold 
inviolable, the obligation which binds you to 
the strictest observance of every precept which 
Christianity enjoins. There neither is, nor can 
be, any middle course between right and 
wrong; nor can the smallest compromise of 
sound principle ever be made without the ut- 
most danger of the entire loss of reputation. 
In fact, the lines of demarkation are so ex- 
tremely small, between all the different de- 
grees of moral imperfection; — the gradations 
and shades from the smallest to the greatest, 
so very minute, that she who indulges her- 



Female Education* 261 

self in the slightest foible, treads on the bor- 
ders of some fault: — the commission of a sin- 
gle fault, leaves the perpetrator on the very 
verge of some vice or crime: and the rash, 
desperate mortal who once passes this peril- 
ous limit, has already gone far in a career 
of degradation to which no human presci- 
ence can possibly assign any stopping place. 
Beware then, for heaven sake, beware, how 
you ever venture upon doing any thing 
which you even suspect to be wrong, under 
the very dangerous persuasion, that it is a 
mere trifle, which you can avoid when you 
please ; or the consequences of which you 
can repair at any time you think proper. 
None of us are so senseless, as to think thus, 
in regard to bodily wounds, which we use 
every precaution to escape. Why then, 
should we be less guarded against the wounds 
of reputation, which are not only more easily 
inflicted, but infinitely more difficult to cure? 

It would be no very easy task to enu- 
merate all the improper motives which may 



262 Lectures on 

influence youth at school; but enough, I 
trust, have been stated, to enable all who 
wish it, to pursue such a course of self-ex- 
amination, as will qualify them to detect all 
such as ought to be expelled from their hearts. 
The result of this all-important investigation 
should be unhesitating self-condemnation, 
and consequent reform, in every case where- 
in they do not find the pure love of virtue 
and knowledge the only governing prin- 
ciple. 

Let us next examine the objects of pursuit 
with the great majority of those who appear 
to be in search of intellectual improvement. 
Some, instead of seeking this inestimable 
boon, seem to study much harder, and to 
take infinitely more pains to avoid it, than 
would actually suffice to attain considerable 
proficiency. Others, — to judge by their 
conduct, have nothing else in view but sheer 
idleness, and sleep, and the indulgence of 
an indolent, selfish disposition ; while mam 



Female Education. 263 

seize with the utmost eagerness, every moment 
they possibly can, to devote themselves to 
some wild, mischievous, senseless play; — as 
if every hour thus spent, was so much clear 
gains from useless labour; and so much time 
which their duty to themselves, required 
them thus to spend, whenever they could 
break loose from the odious restraint of 
scholastick confinement. That nothing can 
be acquired but bad habits, and faults — 
perhaps incorrigible, where such objects are 
pursued, must be perfectly obvious to every 
body, who will bestow but a moment's serious 
reflection on the subject. Nor will the 
acquirement be much greater, or better, even 
among those who appear to study, if the 
desire to surpass a rival ; the expectation 
of making what is called " a good match;" 
or the ambition to be talked about; be, 
as they much too often are, the leading 
objects of literary attainment, or fashionable 
accomplishiT/jnts. In all these cases, infinitely 
more will be lost to the heart, than gained 

by the understanding. Nor indeed, can any 

24* 



264 Lectures on 

other object, but the acquisition of excellence 
for its own sake, as the great purpose of our 
existence; — the sacred command of the Holy, 
Omnipotent Being who made us what we are, 
ever enable us to achieve all the grand, 
moral, and religious ends of education. 
Vanity and vexation of spirit must be our 
certain reward, if we pursue our studies with 
any other view. But after all, even where 
we are right as to our motives and objects, 
unless we use the proper means to attain the 
last, we shall utterly fail. In the case of 
Education, these means arc, unremitting 
diligence, and unwearied perseverance. The 
absolute necessity for their adoption results 
from the fact, that man is a being subject 
to continual change both of body and 
mind, living always in a state, either of 
improvement, or deterioration. Ignorance 
cannot possibly be stationary in its effects, 
but degrades and brutalizes the mind, not 
less by its passive qualities, than do the 
indolence and obstinacy with which we 
resist every effort made bv others to remove 



Female Education. 265 

it. Neither can the effort to learn, it" 
resolutely made and continued, be ever 
entirely disappointed in its aim. In fact there 
is no middle ground between knowledge and 
ignorance, improvement and its reverse — 
virtue and vice; — no resting place in which 
the human mind can safely be suspended 
between the confines of light and darkness; 
the bright regions of etherial wisdom; and 
the paralyzing, deadly atmosphere of illiterate 
folly and stupidity. We must advance, or we 
inevitably retrograde. It is the irreversible 
law of our nature, that if ever we intermit 
our efforts to attain both intellectual and 
physical improvement, mental abasement, 
and bodily decline are the unavoidable 
consequences. Some familiar illustrations 
may, perhaps, place this in a plainer point of 
view. Why, (for example) do we daily wash 
our faces and hands, but for the certainty 
that they would otherwise become dirty and 
offensive to others ? Yet equally certain 
is it, that our minds likewise require some 
analogous purifying operation from the living 



266 Lectures on 

waters of that perennial fountain — Eternal 
Wisdom; or they also, will contract many 
abominations which must be washed away, if 
we would either enjoy comfort and happiness 
ourselves, or contribute to that of others. 

Although the great leading principle 
of our lives should be the constant love 
and pursuit of knowledge and virtue in 
unreluctant, cheerful obedience to the will of 
our Heavenly Father, as revealed to us by 
his son, the blessed Saviour; yet there are 
several other motives to rectitude, which are 
not only allowable, but praise-worthy; if 
always considered as subordinate auxiliaries 
to the one first mentioned. These are, the 
desire fairly and honestly to obtain the good 
opinion of the wise and virtuous part of 
society; — the wish to do credit to our friends, 
connexions, and country; — but above all, the 
active, permanent anxiety to manifest our 
gratitude and affection towards the parents 
who gave us birth, and whose whole earthly 
happiness or misery are dependant upon the 



Female Education. 2G7 

conduct which we pursue, and the characters 
which we form. There are none of you, who 
are not bound to the community in which 
you live, by some, or all of these endearing 
ties ; nor any who are at liberty to disregard 
them, unless you are prepared to meet 
a degree of publick avoidance, contempt, 
and odium which few, — very few, even 
among the most degraded of mankind, have 
the hardihood to encounter with entire 
unconcern. The withering look of publick 
scorn and detestation has been armed by the 
Deity himself with terrors, which like the 
death-bearing blasts of the desert, scarcely 
any human being can attempt to face, and 
live. Beware then, for the love of God, 
beware, my young friends, how you do any 
thing which can bring it upon you. 

There is one view of your situations, 
while at school, which I could wish you 
frequently to take, because I can scarcely 
imagine the possibility of any human mind 
remaining insensible to it, which has received 



2G8 Lectures on 

the slightest degree of moral culture. You 
are not, as many young people seem to 
suppose, so withdrawn from the world in 
consequence of going to school, as to remain, 
during the whole period of your pupilage, 
unnoticed and unknown. The eyes of many 
are continually watching your deportment, 
and your progress : — some, with intense 
anxiety for your welfare ; others with eyes of 
much curiosity, and tongues ready to utter 
predictions in regard to your future charac- 
ters, deduced from your present conduct, 
which are rarely retracted; while scarcely 
any who see you, can be considered indiffer- 
ent spectators of your actions; What may be 
thought and said of you during this state 
of probation and preparation, will probably 
follow you through life. You cannot there- 
fore, with safety nor impunity, neglect, for 
a moment any of the means which are neces- 
sary to the acquisition and establishment of 
fair repute hereafter. In fact, you are in 
some measure the representatives of the 
counties and states from which you come; 



Female Education, 269 

of the companions with whom you spent 
your early years; and of the parents who 
gave you birth. For all who behold you, 
when they notice any thing, either good or 
bad in your behaviour, will as naturally turn 
their thoughts to the foregoing objects, as 
we think of the sun, when we first perceive 
the dawning of day. Can you possibly be 
utterly indifferent in regard to the opinions 
which will be formed, — solely through your 
means, of the places of your nativity ; — 
of the friends and associates of your child- 
hood; but above all, of those to whom, 
under Providence, you owe your existence, 
and all the other temporal blessings which 
you enjoy? I trust in God you cannot. 
Would it not mortify and distress 3^011 to the 
last degree, were you to hear, that any part 
of your conduct had given rise to the infer- 
ence, that you had never been accustomed to 
any thing like decent, genteel society; — that 
your companions had been without manners, 
without information, and almost without 
morals ; while your parents had either totally 



270 Lectures on 

neglected your Education abroad; or had 
ruined your tempers, brutalized your dispo- 
sitions, and perverted your understandings 
by bad examples at home? Yet, you may 
rest assured, my young friends, that such 
conclusions will inevitably be drawn, should 
your own tempers be violent and ungoverna- 
ble ; — your own manners rude and unpol- 
ished ; — your own deportment vulgar, bois- 
terous, and masculine; — while your conver- 
sation is deficient in decency, in correctness 
of language, and in common information. 
This last topick is of such paramount impor- ^ 
tance, that it requires farther illustration. » 

Our conversation is a kind of moral barome- 

/ 
ter, by which the state and character of our 

hearts, are as clearly discerned, as the nature 
of the weather can be by the philosophical 
instrument properly so called. There is no 
possibility that the indications of either, can 
be mistaken. The first may also be com- 
pared to those external appearances of the 
Ijody by which medical men judge of our 
physical health. For it would be quite as 



Female Education. 271 

reasonable to consider gross irruptions and 
foul ulcers on the skin, proofs of sweetness 
of blood, and soundness of constitution; as 
it would be to infer purity of mind, and 
immaculacy of soul from foulness and gross- 
ness of conversation. They are utterly 
incompatible; nor can any woman who 
dares to be guilty of such outrages against 
the characteristick modesty and delicacy of 
her sex, possibly escape the most injurious 
suspicions of her morals; — if she does not 
irretrievably lose her character. Nothing 
that we could do, (who are among the last 
people in the world, willingly to expose } r ou,) 
could possibly prevent such consequences 
from such a habit on your part. For the 
sake then, of all who are near and dear to 
you, as well as for the sake of your own 
happiness, I beseech you so to govern all 
your thoughts, words, and actions, that you 
may spend the whole of your time here, alike 
without fear, as without reproach : And that 
you may build up a character for future use, 
which may not only reflect credit and honour 

25 



272 Lectures on 

upon all who are connected with you; but, 
like the house founded on a rock, may equally 
resist the effects of time and chance. 

Among all the motives, of a temporal 
nature, which influence human conduct, there 
are none which ought to have, and in fact, do 
have, more power over every well regulated 
mind, than those which I have just noticed. 
Indeed, so common is it with all persons 
who have the slightest love of rectitude 
about them, to ask themselves what effect 
any act which they are about to perform, 
may have on the opinions of those who may 
witness it, in relation to the connexions and 
country of the agents, that this is frequently 
the first consideration which precedes the 
action itself. If the old adage be true, 
that "tell me with whom you go, and / will 
tell you what you do," it must be equally 
true, that if you will let me see what you 
do, I will tell you with whom you have 
gone. Here then, is an additional induce- 
ment to continual good conduct, of the 



Female Education. 273 

greatest weight and importance; — such as 
no one who has a heart to feel, or an under- 
standing to comprehend the value of well 
earned reputation, and the beauty, the loveli- 
ness, — the felicity of virtue, can contemplate, 
unmoved. To those who have been carefully 
trained up "in the way in which they should 
go," it is scarcely possible, that there can be 
any greater source of enjoyment, than the 
consciousness of procuring by their own con- 
duct, for those whom they love best on earth, 
the regard, esteem, and admiration of the wise 
and the good, with whom they may have the 
happiness to associate. Yet such, my youth- 
ful friends, may be your enjoyment, — your 
unspeakable delight ; and all this too, not only 
without any real sacrifice on your part; but 
simply, by pursuing the only means which can 
insure to yourselves the inestimable blessing 
of a spotless fame on earth, and imperisha- 
ble felicity in heaven. 

All of you have characters to acquire, 
and to sustain for two very different pur- 



274 Lectures on 

poses; — the one spiritual, the other temporal. 
The first, — which is beyond all comparison 
the most important, you are bound continu- 
ally to aim at accomplishing, as accountable 
beings, to the God who made you, and whose 
heavenly aid you constantly require to coun- 
teract the evil propensities of your hearts. 
Your efforts to attain the second, are due to 
the world; to the situations you may be 
called upon to fill in it; and to the various 
parts which you may be required to perform. 
But although these purposes be distinct, still 
there is such an intimate connexion between 
them, that it is impossible to achieve the first, 
but by means of the last. In other words, 
if you would obtain the inestimable crown 
of heavenly glory prepared, from the foun- 
dation of the world, for the spirits of the 
just, made perfect; it must be by doing the 
will of your Father, on Earth, as it is in 
Heaven : It must be through the mediation and 
atonement of your blessed Saviour : — it must 
be by the uniform fulfilment of all your moral 
obligations, from motives essentially and 



Female Education. 275 

purely religious. So far as the world is con- 
cerned, you may possibly obtain a good 
character without deserving it; for you may 
play the hypocrite, (if you are very cunning,) 
with so much art, as to deceive most of those 
with whom you associate. But no solitude, 
however complete;- — no darkness, however 
impenetrable to human vision; — no conceal- 
ment, nor artifice, however profound, can for 
a moment, veil from the eye of omniscience., 
any human thought or action. That incom- 
prehensible and eternal God, "to whom all 
hearts are known, and from whom no secrets 
are hid," sees and knows, at all times and sea- 
sons, every thing that we either think or do. 
What an awful responsibility then, do we all 
continually live under; — how alarming is 
always the situation of those who either 
meditate, or commit any breach of duty, 
either moral, or religious; and what fatal 
madness is it, to imagine that because we 
may sometimes violate both human and divine 
laws without any human eyes witnessing the 

criminal deed, we are therefore, exempt alike 

25* 



,276 Lectures on 

from the guilt of premeditating, and com- 
mitting sin. If these considerations are 
insufficient to restrain you " from evil ac- 
tions; — if any of you can possibly conceive 
that you are safe from all the dangers and ap- 
palling penalties of vice, merely because you 
can practice it so secretly, that none who have 
the control of your conduct can know a 
word of the matter ; I shall utterly despair 
of saying any thing which can make the 
slightest impression on either your hearts or 
understandings; for they must be lost to all 
sense of moral worth; — to every perception 
of religious obligation. But I will not per- 
mit myself to entertain such truly painful 
anticipations. I will continue to hope for far 
better things ; nor will I relinquish the highly 
pleasing expectations of your general im- 
provement in every thing which renders life 
desirable to ourselves, or useful to others, 
unless you yourselves compel me to do so, 
by a course of conduct manifesting a total 
disregard both of persuasion and reproof, — 
of present fame, and future happiness. My 



Female Education, 277 

feelings and my principles alike impel me to 
keep a constant and vigilant eye over all 
your actions; and although I shall always 
endeavour to make my supervision like that 
of a parent capable of making all proper 
allowances for juvenile failings and indis- 
cretions; yet you may rely on it, that it will 
be the supervision of one who will neither 
be blind to wilful misconduct; nor disposed 
to keep it secret from those who ought to 
know what returns you are making, when out 
of their sight, for all their love, their affec* 
tion, and the various privations to which they 
are subjecting themselves for your sake* 
This last duty would be one of the most 
painful that I could possibly be called upon 
to perform; yet nothing in this world is 
more certain, than its performance will be, 
if any of you should create the distressing 
necessity. I beg of you not to understand 
me as here uttering a threat; but rather, as 
deprecating a great misfortune; for such, 
I certainly should consider it, were any of 
vou to act in such a manner, as to make me 



278 Lectures on 

feel that my duty required me to appeal to 
your parents. From an event so afflicting 
to us, and so injurious to yourselves, I most 
earnestly and fervently hope that we all may 
be saved by your constant and uniform exer- 
tions to merit every praise which good con- 
duct can deserve, or the world's applause can 
bestow. 

To-morrow I shall leave you for several 
weeks. Before I bid you adieu, suffer me 
to avail myself of this occasion to assure 
you that few wishes will be nearer to my 
heart, than for your welfare ;-^-that you will 
be continually remembered in my prayers 
to the Throne of Eternal God; and that 
scarcely any gratification which I can receive 
while gone, will be greater, than to learn that 
you are all rapidly improving in every liberal 
study which can embellish, adorn, and enno- 
ble life; but above all, in those more eleva- 
ted attainments of the soul — piety and vir- 
tue, which alone, can secure for you imper- 
ishable happiness in the world to come. 



LECTURE IX. 

Although few, my young friends, have 
been the weeks which have been added to 
our years, since we parted last, yet far, — 
very far, may we have strayed in this brief 
period from the paths of rectitude, and of 
wisdom; or great may have been the acces- 
sion to our experience, our knowledge, and 
our virtue. According as we have used, or 
abused this time; — in proportion as we have 
neglected, or fulfilled our duties; and have 
earnestly sought, or avoided all the means 
within our reach of intellectual improvement ; 
• — so, necessarily, must have been our pro- 
gress " in all knowledge and virtue ;" or 
our departure from the true road to honour 
and distinction here, and peace and happi- 
ness hereafter. 

Manifest and undeniable as these all- 
important truths are, — few, very few, I fear, 



280 Lectures on 

of the aged; and still fewer of those who 
have not yet passed the vernal season of 
youth, ever bestow sufficient thought on 
them, to derive from their consideration, 
any of those salutary lessons of wisdom 
which they are so admirably calculated to 
teach. Have either of you, my youthful 
auditors, devoted any portion of that time 
which has so rapidly flown away, since I 
last addressed you, to such meditations? — 
That you may immediately bring the ques- 
tion home to your own bosoms, I beg you 
to imagine me a messenger, just sent by the 
parents and friends who placed you here, to 
demand of each individually, prompt and 
candid answers to the following interroga- 
tories. 

Can you truly, and sincerely declare, 
that you never have been guilty, since I saw 
you last, of a single act, the acknowledg- 
ment of which, to those parents and friends, 
would dye your cheeks with the deepest 
shame; and which, — were it known to the 



Female Education, 281 

world, would overwhelm you with unuttera- 
ble confusion? 

Have you, continually and anxiously 
sought by fervent prayer to Almighty God, to 
banish from your souls all evil propensities 
whatever ; and to substitute in their stead, 
those qualities and endowments which lead 
to happiness in this world, and eternal feli- 
city in the next? 

Can you lay your hands upon your hearts, 
and solemnly affirm in the presence of your 
Heavenly Father, thatyou have never treated 
your comrades with rudeness, anger, malice, 
nor unkindness; — that you have never been 
envious of their good qualities and acquire- 
ments: — never anxious to expose their bad 
ones; — and that you have maintained the 
most inviolable, — the most sacred regard for 
truth in every thing which you have either 
said or done? 

Can you fearlessly, and with safe con- 
sciences aver, that you have never omitted 



282 Lectures on 

for a single day, to offer up your humble 
thanks to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe 
for all his mercies; — to implore his heavenly 
aid in all your undertakings ; — to cultivate 
with unremitting assiduity, every talent which 
he has given you ; and finally, to render back 
to him your immortal souls enriched, enno- 
bled, and adorned with all the great quali- 
ties and virtues which he has commanded 
you to acquire, as indispensable passports to 
his heavenly kingdom? 

These, my young friends, are solemn 
and awful questions, — even on the supposi- 
tion that they were to be propounded, as I 
have supposed, only in the character of an 
earthly messenger from frail human beings, 
like ourselves. But how fearfully, how tre- 
mendously must this awfulness and solem- 
nity be augmented, if we will — only for a mo- 
ment reflect, that each, and every one of us 
are certainly liable, at every moment of our 
existence, to have interrogatories of similar 
import, peremptorily put to us before the 



Female Education. 283 

dread tribunal of a justly offended God, 
whom no imaginable arts of evasion can de- 
ceive, no possible power of language can 
persuade to change the fixed purpose of his 
will. Yes, in an instant, — in the twinkling 
of an eye, and long before the sound of the 
last word could die away on my lips, any 
one, — nay, all of us here present, might be 
snatched away to answer for our sins ; to 
pay the dreadful price of all our opportuni- 
ties neglected or lost; — to suffer the pains and 
penalties of those unprofitable servants, who 
bury, (as it were,) their talents in the ground ; 
— and to expiate our guilt in the hopeless tor- 
ments of eternal perdition. From this con- 
tinually impending fate, no circumstances, no 
condition, no age whatever, can exempt any 
one of us. Can we, for a moment, possibly 
doubt this ? Let us turn our eyes in any di 
rection we please, and the innumerable in- 
stances of mortality around us, will thor- 
oughly, and irresistibly convince, even the 
most thoughtless, that death continually 
threatens us all, from the cradle, to the ut- 

26 



284 Lectures on 

most extent of human life. Nor can we 
possibly judge from any external appear- 
ances whatever, that one is more exempt from 
this danger, than another. Indeed, we often 
behold those who are in all the pride, and 
vigour, and joy of youth, and seemingly in 
imperishable health, cut off with the sudden- 
ness of the lightning's flash, amid all the fair- 
est promises of a long and happy life ; — while 
the poor, emaciated, half-dead invalid, who 
appears just falling into his grave, will hover 
over it for da}'s, and weeks, and months to- 
gether, until some providential turn in the 
disease, restores him to the world again. 
Rest assured then, — but indeed, your own 
experience, short as it is, must convince you 
of it, that it is not the blooming cheek, nor the 
sparkling eye, nor the loveliest face and form 
that nature ever bestowed on woman, which 
can protect the possessor, — even for an in- 
stant, from the universal doom of death. 
Perpetuity of duration belongs only to God 
and his holy ansrels ; although man, — poor, 
frail, imbecile man, if you judge by the way 



Female Education. 285 

in which he lives, arrogates it to himself, 
equally with the highest of the heavenly host. 
But the principle of inevitable decay is not 
confined to man alone ; it exists in every object 
of the material world ; nor are there any cir- 
cumstances of characteristick beauty, or ter- 
ror, or grandeur which appear to avail 
much, either in lessening, or increasing this 
principle. What, for example, is more love- 
ly, — what more delightful to behold, than 
the countless multitude of vernal and sum- 
mer flowers, which embellish and adorn the 
bosom of our planet ; — yet, what is there 
more transient, — what, sooner mingles with 
its elemental dust ? Can there be any thing 
more awful and terrifick than the warring of 
the elements, in the dark hour of night, 
when the tempest howls, and the thunders 
roar, and the fires of heaven itself are flash- 
ing around us, as if the general conflagration 
were at hand ; — yet, but a little while, and 
all is hushed, as still, as the silent mansions 
of the dead ? What is there in all the visi- 
ble creation, more magnificent, more sublime, 



2 SO Lectures on 

than the grand arch of heavenly glory, with all 
its variegated colours of matchless brillian- 
cy, and splendour, and beauty, proclaiming 
to man that the desolating storm has passed 
away ; — yet, is it scarcely seen, before it 
vanishes, as if it had never been ? Since then, 
there is nothing in this world of ours, either 
animate or inanimate, of which we have, even 
the slightest knowledge, but bears upon it 
the stamp of a perishable nature ; — how is it, 
my friends, — who can assign any rational 
cause for it, that we almost all, spend our 
whole lives like beings accountable for their 
conduct to none but themselves ; — that we 
act, nearly in every instance, as if both our 
bodies and our souls were immortal ; and 
that we continue to live without God in the 
world ? Do we disbelieve in the reality of a 
future state of rewards and punishments for 
every thing done in this life ? Do you be- 
lieve that you shall never die, nor be called 
to account for your actions ? If you do not, 
— tell me, I beseech you, tell me to what 
evidence I must look for your belief in the 



Female Education, 287 

one, or your unbelief -in the other. Have 
you none to which you can confidently ap- 
peal for proof? Alas ! if you have not, fly, 
I pray you, fly, without farther loss of time, 
from the deadly errour of delay and pro- 
crastination in regard to all matters which 
relate to your eternal interests. There is 
not one, not a solitary individual among 
you, who would continue to sport and play 
in utter idleness, over a volcano, which you 
knew was just about to burst, and overwhelm 
all, in one indiscriminate ruin. Yet in what 
respect would your remaining in such a sit- 
uation until destruction befel you, in what, 
1 beseech you, would it differ from your pro- 
fessing to believe in the certainty, and instant 
possibility of death, as well as in the certain- 
ty of happiness or misery in another world, 
being the consequence of our actions in 
this ; and your still continuing to act, as if 
neither the one, nor the other could ever hap- 
pen ? Is there any thing in the nature of the 
tenure by which you are compelled to per- 
ceive that all our lives are held s calculated 
26* 



288 Lectures on 

to create this false security, this insane re- 
liance on its lasting duration ? Can you see 
aught in life itself, to justify the postpone- 
ment, for a single minute, of any act which 
appears essential to the attainment either of 
our remote, or immediate good ? Let us 
briefly consider what this life really is, that 
we may judge how far it becomes rational 
and accountable beings to spend it as most 
of us do. It comprehends a period of time, 
entirely indefinite, which may be divided 
into past, present, and future. The first is 
always irrevocable, and may, according as 
we have used it, entail on both the last, un- 
avoidable misery, or great happiness. The 
future is that which we may never see, and 
is equally beyond our control with the past. 
The present then, is all of which we can 
possibly be sure ; and even this may elude 
our eager grasp at the very instant that we 
feel most certain of its possession. And 
what is it after all, I intreat you to reflect, 
what is it ? A mere span, if we attempt 
to measure it by space, — a mere moment. 



Female Education. 289 

scarcely computable in thousands of instan- 
ces, if we try to reckon it by time. Yet, it 
is during the existence of this almost immea- 
surable, uncomputable thing called — present 
life, that all our preparations are to be made 
for a state of being which is to be everlast- 
ing ! And it is for what we often most false- 
ly call the enjoyment of this mere span, this 
moment, comparatively speaking, that but 
too many of us are willing to risk the true 
honour, the fame, the happiness itself of 
both worlds. All are to be hazarded, — all 
to be sacrificed, to the fast fleeting gratifica- 
tion of pride, vanity, envy, malice, or some 
still baser, more guilty passion. We con- 
tinue to live, as if we were never to die ; — 
the voice of experience cries to us in vain - 7 
and we waste, utterly waste in sins either of 
omission or commission, that precious period 
— the present, — (the more precious for its 
extreme brevity and uncertainty,) upon the 
pruper employment of which, our all of felici- 
ty both here and hereafter, entirely depends. 
Oh ! fatal, — desperately fatal folly ! Oh, 



290 Lectures on 

most destructive, most incomprehensible de- 
lusion ! But still, some of you perhaps, will 
say, if we have erred, if we have sinned, we 
are firmly determined to repent, and to re- 
form. To-morrow, or the next day, or the 
day after, or next week, or next month, we 
will positively begin the work of reforma- 
tion. Have you not already seen, are you 
not long ago convinced beyond the possibili- 
ty of doubt, that you have no such command 
over future time, as to call a single instant of 
it your own ? Indeed, that such is the en- 
tire instability of your continuance in this 
world, that every breath you respire may 
send your soul to the next. What infatua- 
tion, what madness, nay what guilt then, is 
yours, in deliberately postponing for a single 
moment, a measure of such incalculable im- 
portance, as this work of reformation must 
be to all f 

These, my youthful friends, are views of 
human life, and of its various duties, and re- 
sponsibilities, which are totally irreconcilea- 



Female Education. ' 291 

ble to the mispending of your precious time 
in any manner whatever. And hence it be- 
comes a matter of the deepest imaginable 
interest to know in what this abuse consists. 
You mispend your time, if you while it away 
in mere idleness, without occupation of any 
kind. You mispend it, if you indulge in cul- 
pable, or sinful wishes and desires; in a 
passion for show, finery, and extravagant 
living ; in an eager, and anxious pursuit of 
human praise, — especially when purchased 
at the expense of your companions and asso- 
ciates ; — that is, by disparaging them, to 
elevate yourselves, and in seeking to acquire 
any thing which you want, by unjust means. 
You mispend it, when you neglect any op- 
portunity of mental improvement ; of which 
neglect you are nearly as guilty, when you 
reluctantly, or indolently avail yourselves of 
these opportunities, as if you entirely disre- 
garded them. You mispend it, in mimick- 
ing each other's defects, instead of imitating 
another's virtues. You shamefully, — nay, 



292 Lectures on 

wickedly mispend it, if you dare to quarrel 
with your comrades ; if you dare attempt to 
injure them in the estimation, either of each 
other, or of any one else ; — and when you 
endeavour to practice, either towards them 
or others, those arts of disingenuousness and 
dissimulation, which array the countenance 
in the smiles of confidence, regard, and af- 
fection, while the heart is rankling with any 
or all of the sentiments of jealousy, envy, 
animosity, revenge, or hatred. You shame- 
fully, and wickedly mispend it, when yon are 
guilty of the slightest wilful breach of the 
laws of veracity, and justice, your obliga- 
tions to obey which, are solemn, sacred, and 

immutable. In a word, you most shamefully 

> 

and wickedly mispend your time, when you 
either say or do any thing which will cor- 
rupt your hearts and degrade your undeiv 
standings ; or when you wilfully neglect to 
do every thing you can, to accomplish the 
great purpose for which you live, and move, 
and have your being : and that is, to pre- 



Female Education. 293 

pare and fit yourselves for a world of endless 
joy, and ineffable bliss. 

Can any of you, after this, continue to 
believe, that true wisdom consists in pursu- 
ing an opposite road to the one which I have 
pointed out in order to attain happiness? 
Think you still, that the mispending of time, 
is the only thing which gives real pleasure, 
and the proper use of it, that alone which 
causes pain? Go to the bed of the dying 
sinner; witness the last agonies of Jtis hope- 
less guilt and remorse; and then say, what 
reliance should be placed on such a creed, 
as the one just stated. Approach next the 
hallowed spot where the soul of the expiring 
christian is just about to take its flight to 
heaven ; contemplate the peace, the calm- 
ness, the serenity of his looks ; behold the 
lambent smile of unutterable joy which for 
the last time lights up that countenance, 
beaming forth resignation, and comfort to 
the surrounding objects of his love ; and 
then doubt, if you can, which is right, the 



£94 Lectures on 

passion that urges you to yield to every im- 
pulse of inclination and desire; or the rea- 
son which enjoins you to love, and fear God, 
and to keep his commandments. 

But this last, is believed by many to be 
so arduous a task, that the very effort to per- 
form it, at once precludes us from every 
thing called pleasure in this world. How 
entirely false, — how fatally delusive, is such 
an opinion ! for it is only among the truly 
religious^ that real happiness is to be found. 
Genuine religion is the parent of lasting 
cheerfulness and peace of mind; it is the 
only permanent source of contentment, the 
only infallible guide in the path of duty, and 
the only uniform, unfailing monitor which 
enables us to persevere in it. None of the 
true and legitimate enjoyments of social 
intercourse are interdicted by its precepts; — 
none of the lawful pursuits of life forbid by 
its doctrines ; nor can our progress in any 
useful occupation be at all retarded, or in 
any degree embarrassed, by a faithful com- 



Female Education. 295 

pliaticc with all its requisitions. True reli- 
gion is the only principle of the soul, which 
can qualify us to bear either prosperity or 
adversity, as we ought to do; it is this alone 
which gives us comfort and consolation in the 
midst of the most afflicting calamities of 
our present state ; — and this alone which 
bestows upon us that self-control, so neces- 
sary to be exercised, almost every hour of 
our lives. In short, without religion, we are 
but one degree removed above the beasts 
that perish in having our reason to guide us, 
while we degrade ourselves far below them, 
when we act in direct opposition to it. But 
with this heavenly rule of conduct engrafted 
in our hearts, and continually guided and 
governed by the holy spirit of him who gave 
it ; we are creatures made after God's own 
image; only a little lower, than the angels; 
and fit inheritors of that kingdom prepared 
for the spirits of just men made perfect, from 
the foundation of the world. 



07 



29G Lectures on 

Let none, for a moment, believe, from 
any part of the foregoing remarks, that I can 
possibly consider our obligations to acquire 
true religion, at all incompatible with an ar- 
dent pursuit of science and literature. No- 
thing can be more opposite to my opinions, — 
nothing more remote from my designs in ad- 
dressing you. For my chief object has been, 
and will continue to be, in all I say and do 
on your accounts, to convince you thorough- 
ly, that knowledge, real knowledge, is not 
only the best and most powerful of all human 
instruments for the promotion of religion, so 
far as that depends upon man; but that the 
acquisition of it, is expressly commanded by 
the Deity himself. You will find both the 
proof, and the illustration of this command 
in our blessed Saviour's admirable parable of 
the talents. In this, the pieces of money re- 
present our imaginations, our memories, our 
judgments, and all the other faculties of our 
minds: and the means by which we are to 
improve and elevate them to their highest 



Female Education. 297 

degree of attainable perfection ; are, contin- 
ual application to study; unwearied research 
after useful knowledge of every kind adapted 
to our various situations and circumstances 
in life ; and an ardent pursuit of wisdom and 
virtue, as the only sure, effectual mode of 
obtaining the rewards bestowed on those good 
and faithful servants who had doubled every 
talent committed to them. Hence it is most 
manifest, that to adorn and embellish the mind 
by all the attainable lights of science, learn- 
ing, and erudition, is not only an allowable 
occupation; but an indispensable duty. They 
lead us to a knowledge of many of the ways 
of Providence, which we should not other- 
wise perceive ; they teach us more fully to 
comprehend the nature and inviolability of 
our obligations to act well our parts in all 
the various relations of life; but above all, 
they give us nearer and more expanded views 
of the wisdom, the power, and the goodness 
of the great, — the ever-glorious author of the 
universe. These are some among the many 
inestimable advantages of a good education, 



298 Lectures on 

and I could add more, if I thought it possi- 
ble that more could be necessary, to produce 
in your minds, a conviction of the momen- 
tous truths which I have been endeavouring 
to inculcate. 

Let nothing which has been said, be 
construed into a belief, that those who have 
been so unfortunate as never to have had 
the opportunity of acquiring a good educa- 
tion, are incapable of those sentiments which 
fill the hearts and guide the conduct of true 
christians. If this were true, thousands and 
millions could never be christians a* all. 
What I meant to say, and what I have en- 
deavoured to prove, is, that true knowledge 
must always possess most decided, and very 
great advantages over ignorance, for all the 
purposes of life. But it was chiefly with 
ivilful ignorance, that I aimed to contrast it. 
The first, is the greatest ornament and safe- 
guard of youth, — the best occupation and 
solace of old age; while the last, is a shame, 
a scandal, and a deadly sin in all who are 



Female Education. 299 

guilty of it.- Let me, once more then, im- 
plore you, my young friends, to avoid the 
one, as highly disgraceful in the sight of 
man, and really criminal in the eyes of God ; 
while you ardently cultivate the other, as 
the purest source of all your greatest en- 
joyments upon earth; and the surest founda- 
tion for your dearest hopes of heaven. 
27* 



LECTURE X. 

Once more, my youthful auditors, per- 
mit me to solicit your attention, while I 
renew my admonitions in regard to the means 
necessary to be pursued for your moral and 
intellectual improvement. And let me not 
appear too importunate, if I continue to press 
and urge you on these topicks, with a degree 
of earnestness, which, to you may seem dis- 
proportionate to the importance of the sub- 
ject. Some of you perhaps, may think, 
that as you are the persons chiefly to be bene- 
fitted, I might safely trust to this circumstance, 
as a sufficient security, that you would neglect 
nothing that you ought to do, for the promo- 
tion of your own welfare. If the mere per- 
ception of the mode by which this was to 
be accomplished, were enough of itself, to 
enable us steadily to follow that mode, then 



302 Lectures on 

indeed, would my labour be useless, my care 
and anxiety entirely supererogatory. But it 
is not the judgment to discern what is right, 
which most of us want, so much as the reso- 
lution to practice it; for it is on this rock that 
both the aged and the young are most exposed 
to shipwreck. Few, — very few of us, are so 
devoid of understanding, as not to know per- 
fectly well, what our duty is, in almost any 
situation wherein we may be placed ; but the 
great misfortune is, that although we see and 
approve the true course, we follow the wrong 
one. Our spirit may be willing, but our flesh 
is weak; and hence the necessity, not only 
that this true course should frequently be 
pointed out to us; but that all the powers, 
both of argument and persuasion, should con- 
tinually be brought to bear upon our minds, 
that by the blessing of God on the labours 
of our moral teachers, all our infirmities 
may, in a great measure, be cured; our 
perverse inclinations counteracted; and the 
corruptions of our hearts purified. These 
diseases of our depraved nature can never be 



Female Education* 303 

healed, merely by the self-acknowledgment, 
that we have them. Indeed, the conscious- 
ness of their existence, unaccompanied by 
any effort to remove them, only aggravates 
their malignity. To effect a perfect cure, 
we must not only listen with undivided atten- 
tion to the physicians of our souls ; but we 
must follow strictly, their prescriptions ; and 
above all, we must continually praj/ to our 
Heavenly Father for that restoration to the 
primitive perfection of our nature, which he 
alone, can ultimately bestow. Unless we ask, 
we cannot possibly have ; unless we seek, 
we shall never find; nor will the eternal 
portals of heaven ever be opened for us, if 
we do not constantly beg admittance with 
the most humble and fervent devotion which 
we are capable of exercising; and fit ourselves, 
for entering them, by a life of holiness, and 
active piety. 

Although few, if any of the means 
essential to your preparation for the parts 
which you will probably be called hereafter, 



304 Lectures on 

to act, have passed unnoticed in my former 
Lectures; yet I fear, that some of them at 
least, have been recommended in too cursory 
a manner; or that much which was said, has 
so far been forgotten, as to require a recur- 
rence to several of the same topicks. The 
faults which I still see you commit, I must 
still endeavour to correct; — discouraging as 
I acknowledge every instance to be, wherein 
my labours appear to have been fruitless. 
But the lamentable fact is, that there is 
nothing which the memory so illy retains, 
or, if retained, — which the will so reluctant- 
ly practices, as the great precepts of our 
moral and religious duties. 

Among those of which it seems most 
necessary to remind you, are all that relate 
to the economy of time and money; — the 
acquisition of self-control; and the proper 
regulation of your tempers and deportment: 
for in these particulars you most frequently 
err; — these are the duties in which you are 
most apt to fail; and these are the qualities 



Female Education, 305 

most requisite for your welfare, — at least in 
time, if not in eternity. The maxim "waste 
not, want not" applies with equal force to 
every object of real utility, or allowable 
pleasure, to which we wish to devote our 
time; or upon which we may desire to 
expend our wealth ; nor can it scarcely ever 
be violated without some loss, greatly dispro- 
portionate to the imaginary gain for which 
we make the sacrifice. If you waste 
your time, it is most manifest, that no pos- 
sible exertion of human power can recover 
it; seeing that you have but a certain period 
to live; that every portion of it has its ap- 
propriate duties, to be fulfilled without suf- 
fering one to encroach upon the other, or to 
interfere with its faithful performance; and 
consequently, that the attempt to compensate 
for any past neglect, cannot be made without 
violating some present obligation. If you 
waste your property, you incur the same 
moral responsibilities, and expose }<ourselves 
to the same moral risks in relation to another 
world, as in misusing your time: for both 



306 Lectures on 

are " talents" confided to you for improvement 
and beneficial application ; and wo be to all 
those who abuse so sacred a trust. But the 
waste of money is inevitably followed by 
many temporal punishments of no ordinary 
severity, which do not always ensue from 
the mere waste of time. To say nothing of 
the utter impossibility of gratifying all those 
false tastes, vicious appetites, and highly 
culpable, — if not criminal passions, which 
such extravagance almost always creates, it 
frequently brings upon us all the complica- 
ted miseries of poverty. These are too 
often, not only mental and bodily anguish, 
starvation, and perpetual disease; but the 
perpetration of crime, everlasting disgrace, 
and a miserable — not unfrequently, an 
ignominious death. It is not alone, in the 
dissipation of private fortunes; in the ruin 
of private families; and in the tragical sui- 
cides, by poison or the pistol, of persons 
driven to desperation in the accursed haunts 
of profligacy and vice, that the fatal effects 
of wanting economy, are to be seen. Neither 



Female Education. 307 

is it alone, in the groans of imprisoned 
debtors, in the impassioned cries of malefac- 
tors under the gallows; nor in the dying 
prayers of distracted mothers who leave 
their starving children to perish for a morsel 
of bread, that the heart-rendingconsequences 
of this criminal passion, are to be heard. 
Its bloody march is often to be traced over 
the murdered bodies of thousands of vic- 
tims, to the desolation of great kingdoms, 
and the utter subversion of mighty empires. 
For no cause whatever, more frequently pro- 
duces these overwhelming revolutions, than 
the lust of wealth arising from the profuse 
expenditure of it, which beget arbitrary 
exactions, resistance to such tyranny, and 
the numerous wars of injustice and ra- 
pacity which for so many ages, have con- 
tinued to scourge and curse mankind. — 
Little do any of you imagine, in the un- 
suspecting innocence of your hearts, that the 
mere throwing away of a few dollars and 
cents for useless toys, trinkets, nuts, cakes, 
and sweetmeats, can possibly proceed from 
28 



308 Lectures on 

the same passion, which leads to such awful 
and appalling results : — as little as the poor 
man, who was crushed to death the other day 
in his mill, probably imagined, that so trivial 
a cause, as a small part of his apparel catch- 
ing in the wheels, could bring him to so ex- 
cruciating, and dreadful an end. Nor indeed, 
could such fatal consequences ever follow 
from wasting such small sums, if we had al- 
ways the power of stopping when we pleased, 
in any culpable indulgence. But in so weak 
a degree do the best of us possess any such 
power, that the neglect to exercise it for a very 
short time, and in regard to very small mat- 
ters, destroys it altogether. We must resist 
every propensity of the kind in the outset ; 
or it is an hundred to one, that resistance 
will be vain ; for the disposition which im- 
pels us to squander cents, is precisely the 
same, that causes the waste of thousands of 
dollars in the most irreclaimable offenders. 
It is not, therefore, the magnitude of the sum 
thrown away, but the motive which prompts 
the expenditure, that constitutes the guilt of 



Female Education. 309 

extravagance in the use of money: and it is 
the frequency with which we permit this mo- 
tive to act, much more than the extent of 
each indulgence, that ultimately gives it an 
uncontrolable influence over our actions. To 
see our errour after so fatal an ascendancy is 
once established, only serves to aggravate our 
sufferings ; for the consciousness of sinning, 
without the power of effectual repentance, is 
the consummation of all human misery. We 
ourselves have cast the die ; we ourselves have 
irrevocably sealed our fate, as to this world; 
and God alone, can save us from despair and 
destruction in the next. 

Such are often the disastrous consequen- 
ces of the want of economy ; nor is it necessa- 
ry, in order to produce them, that the in- 
stance, at first, should be either great in 
amount, or incessantly repeated. All our 
habits, — even the worst, are superinduced by 
slow degrees; by indulgences which, at the 
beginning, appear scarcely worth noticing; 
and the evil is thus, often past all human re- 



310 Lectures on 

medies, almost before we are aware of its 
commencement. 

I fear much, my inexperienced young 
friends, that you will think the picture which 
I have drawn of the fatal effects of wanting 
economy, somewhat too highly coloured; 
and that you will turn rather an incredulous 
ear to all I can say on this subject, as you 
cannot, so early in life, have acquired any 
knowledge by personal suffering, which will 
confirm what I have said. God grant that 
you may all live and die without any such 
experience. If I could feel confident that 
you would, I should be quite content that 
you should believe my better judgment had 
yielded to imaginary fears on your account ; 
that the wasteful dispositions which I occa- 
sionally see some of you manifest, will de- 
cline with your advancing years; and that 
all will, ultimately do right. 

In close connexion with this ruinous 
vice — the want of economy, is the want of 



Female Education. 311 

self-control. Indeed, if it be not the proli- 
fick source of all our worst passions and ha- 
bits, it is, at least, the cause of their acquiring 
such irresistible influence over us, as they 
always do, where this want exists in a great 
degree. This all-important power of self- 
government, is the joint result of good-judg- 
ment, piety, and virtue; and to be without it, 
is to lose every advantage of that god-like 
faculty, reason, which our Heavenly Father 
hath bestowed on us, as a faithful guide in 
all matters essential to our well-being. But 
the great difficulty, the rare achievement, is 
how to acquire such power. The presump- 
tion of mankind, and their insane pride of 
opinion, generally incline them to the belief, 
that the best mode is, to expose themselves 
to frequent trials of their moral strength. 
But rest assured, my young friends, that by 
far the safest course, if not the most produc- 
tive of celebrity for you, is to keep yourselves 
always, if possible, out of the way of temptation. 
Avoid the dangers of defeat, rather than court 

the laurels of victory. This is far preferable 

28* 



312 Lectures on 

for every body, but especially for your sex, 
to seeking opportunities of exposure to moral 
conflicts, for the hazardous purpose of prov- 
ing your capability of effectual resistance. 
The first is wisdom, the last is what in com- 
mon parlance, may justly be called, fool-har- 
diness; and rarely escapes the punishment 
due to such temerity. If indeed, we are una- 
voidably exposed to moral danger, we may 
then exert as much of our moral courage, as 
is necessary, successfully to oppose it; and 
it is highly honourable, as well as meritorious 
to do so. Women especially, are entitled to 
great praise for every such exertion; be- 
cause it is too common an errour in their edu- 
cation, to act towards them, as if they were 
far less capable than man, of making them: 
and it is, in a great measure, attributable 
to this very pernicious errour, that we witness, 
in your sex, so many woful failures to ex- 
ercise self-control, when necessary. The 
belief in your natural weakness, often pro- 
duces the incapacity, where none would have 
existed, but for this most erroneous, and high- 



Female Education. 31$ 

Jy pernicious pre-conception. But if such 
an obstacle, on the one hand, opposes your 
acquisition of this cardinal virtue ; every 
principle of laudable ambition, of respect for 
publick opinion, of gratitude to your parents, 
and duty to your God, call upon you, on 
the other, to acquire it, if possible. Not one 
in the whole catalogue, is more generally use- 
ful; for none are of more general applica- 
tion, whether our object be pleasure, business, 
or mental improvement. It is by the exer- 
cise of this quality solely, directed by good 
judgment, that we are able to allot to every 
occupation, to assign to every duty, its pro- 
per portion of our time. Pray for it there- 
fore, my young friends, pray for it, I beseech 
you, "in season and out of season," and 
practice it on every occasion where suitable 
opportunities present themselves for this 
most salutary discipline. No worldly dis- 
tinction which your sex can possibly gain, 
will acquire for them more general es- 
teem ; no quality which they can cultivate, 
can prove of greater practical benefit ; no 



314 Lectures on 

moral virtue with which they can be en- 
dowed, will contribute more towards con- 
ducting them safely and happily, along 
"that narrow way" which leads to everlast- 
ing life. 

Should I appear to give you but ano 
ther version of such arguments, exhortations, 
and admonitions, as I have addressed to you 
on former occasions, do not, I pray you, turn 
a deaf ear to them on that account: you 
would act just as wisely, in refusing to eat to 
day, merely because you had taken your 
usual quantity of food yesterday. For unless 
you can truly and conscientiously affirm, 
that you have no longer any faults to cor- 
rect, nor vicious inclinations to subdue, you 
are still in great need of such advice and 
instruction, as I have already endeavoured, 
with the most earnest wishes for your welfare, 
to bestow. In fact, although all the changes 
have been rung by moralists and divines, 
many millions of times, on every branch and 
precept of our moral law, the frequent repe- 



Female Education. 315 

tition of these changes must always be neces- 
sary, so long as our violations of moral duty 
continue to be of almost daily occurrence* 
To administer these precepts in every possi- 
ble form, which affords the least prospect of 
rendering them efficacious, is one of the 
means appointed by our Heavenly Father 
himself, for the cure of all our moral mala- 
dies : nor have we any excuse for neglecting 
to prescribe them, so long as our patients 
appear in danger, or the smallest shadow of 
hope remains, of infusing the sovereign 
balm of moral health into their souls. If 
my object were literary fame, I might, very 
probably, have gained more by saying less. 
But it is to benefit you that I speak; to in- 
spire you with a love of science and virtue 
that I write ; and my highest ambition, my 
most anxious hope, is, to restore you to your 
parents and friends, accomplished, if possible^ 
"in every good word and work," — that you 
may be the pride and joy of their declining 
years ; the ornaments and blessings of every 
circle in which you move; and finally, that 



316 Lectures on 

you may receive in another and a better 
world, the crown of everlasting glory and fe- 
licity, for a life wellspent in this. 

To give you every aid in my power for 
accomplishing these exalted purposes, I must 
not omit again to admonish you on other to- 
picks, equally important with those to which 
I have, just now, so earnestly besought your 
constant attention. The government of your 
tempers, and the fashioning of your deport- 
ment, appear to rank first, among those not 
yet noticed, on the present occasion; not 
only on account of the necessity and difficul- 
ty of the acquisition; but because I perceive, 
with the deepest regret, that some of you 
have still, much to do, if not also to team, in 
regard to these momentous matters. Your 
tempers are generally felt to be so much a 
part of yourselves, that you are often un- 
conscious of having any more power over 
them, than over the circulation of your blood. 
This is a most fatal mistake ; for it frequent- 
ly prevents you from all effort to regulate 



Female Education. 317 

them ; and every out-breaking is excused by 
some such self-justification as, — " 'tis my na- 
ture, and I can't help it:" as if it were possi- 
ble to believe, that the beneficent author of 
the universe had implanted in the creatures 
which " he had formed after his own image," 
ungovernable dispositions and passions that 
render them greater annoyances and curses to 
their fellow beings, than the fiercest and most 
savage, and ferocious beasts of the forest. 
The latter, it is true, will sometimes rend, 
and tear, and devour the human body, — 
never their own species: but is not this a 
thousand times better, than to lacerate, and 
tear, and blast the human reputation; to in- 
flict the deepest wounds on the human heart 
and character; and to exercise all the power 
we have, for no other apparent purpose, than 
to render the unfortunate victims of it mise- 
rable ? And yet beings called human, in- 
telligent, and rational beings, — if they have 
uncontrolable tempers, often do all this, 
without the slightest discoverable compunc- 
tion or remorse ! When this is the case, it 



31 S Lectures on 

is because the moral poison has been traiib- 
fused, as it were, by bad nursing, into the 
very blood, almost as soon as it begins to 
circulate ; and the hearts of the little inno- 
cents are deeply corrupted, before it is even 
surmised, that their infant palpitations can be 
at all affected by any other cause, than mus- 
cular contraction and dilatation. And here 
I cannot forbear to suggest a hint for parent- 
al consideration. If it be true, — as it most 
unquestionably is, that temper is one of the 
very first things found in the infant mind, 
what continual caution, what unceasing vigi- 
lance should be used in the choice of those 
who are to have the care of children, during 
the whole period previous to their being sent 
to school? Yet how few parents are there, 
who seem to be aware, that any thing more 
is necessary at this age, than to place them 
under the supervision of some two-legged 
animal, utterly incapable of any other act of 
rationality, than to save their limbs from be- 
ing broken ; to keep them out of the fire; and 
prevent their being drowned? How fatal 



Female Education. 319 

does this errour often prove ! What incalcu- 
lable mischief and wretchedness are fre- 
quently, the bitter fruits of such rash, incon- 
siderate neglect ! If such nurses were to 
plunge these poor children into the deepest 
abyss of the ocean, or roast them alive, it 
would often prove a far more merciful treat- 
ment, than to bring them up to the hopeless 
misery of that utter degradation, and incura- 
ble depravity of character, which the early 
neglect of their tempers and principles, is so 
apt, — I may almost say, so certain to pro- 
duce. 

Although it seems probable, that physi- 
cal organization has some influence over our 
tempers ; yet it is certain, that the characters 
and conduct of our first teachers, — our ear- 
liest associates, have much more : — so much 
indeed, that the moral discipline to which 
they may be subjected with these, will prove 
all-sufficient, by the blessing of God, to make 
them, in almost every case, what they ought 
to be. But the soul being the seat of all 



320 Lectures on 

our mental qualities, our chief cares should 
be unremittingly devoted to that. In the 
beautiful imagery of poetick fiction, it has 
been aptly called a " vital spark of heavenly 
flame." To pursue this figure still farther, we 
may add, that by watching with the most se- 
dulous anxiety, its first dawnings ; by cher- 
ishing with proper materials, the earliest 
emanations of its rays ; we may render it a 
genial and auspicious light, instead of a blast- 
ing and consuming fire. This precautionary 
care, and assiduity may be the means, by 
Divine aid, of multiplying to an immense 
and indefinite extent, every blessing of which 
our present state is susceptible ; and of real- 
izing all the felicity that can be anticipated 
for the future. But this " one thing need- 
ful" — the earliest possible culture of the in- 
tellect, being neglected, will render ineffec- 
tual, every other care. For if the faculties 
which distinguish man from the brute crea- 
tion, be suffered to remain unimproved y — if 
the reason be perverted, and the temper ut- 
terly ruined, what can the mere preservation 



Female Education. 321 

ut' limbs and health avail, but to prolong the 
power of the individual to annoy, to tor- 
ment, and to curse mankind ? 

All which has been said of the necessU 
ty for the earliest attention to the formation 
of temper, applies with equal force to deport- 
ment, so soon as the period arrives, when we 
can begin to regulate it : and all goes to de- 
monstrate the paramount importance of the 
Scripture command ; to " train up your child 
in the way he should go, that when lie is 
old, he may not depart from it." The= real 
advantages of such a course, so very far sur- 
pass, either the real or supposed difficulties 
and inconveniences, that those who fail to 
pursue it without intermission, will not only 
deserve to be ranked among the most irra- 
tional of all irrational animals ; but they 
will assuredly have to drink of " the gall of 
bitterness," as long as life shall last. But 
to return to the subject of deportment, — by 
which I here wish you to understand, all our 
.outward actions, as well as the manner of 



323 Lectures on 

performing them. Although this may be 
good, while our temper is bad ; yet if the 
last be defective, the first must always be 
destitute of its greatest charm, which is the 
effort to please, flowing directly from the 
heart. Hence results the necessity of the 
strictest attention to both, at the same time, 
On temper we must greatly depend for our 
own comfort and happiness in all our social 
relations, in the dreariness of solitude, as 
well as in all the bustle and business of life : 
while we have to rely chiefly on deportment 
for the power of contributing to the comfort 
and happiness of others. To this last quali- 
ty, in its most enlarged sense, we are whol- 
ly indebted for our good or bad reception in 
society ; for the influence which we may ac- 
quire over the minds and hearts of mankind ; 
and for the permanent regard and attach- 
ment of all who may be the objects of our 
esteem, our love, and our most ardent affec- 
tions. If therefore, you are capable of en- 
tertaining either of these sentiments for oth- 
ers; or find it essential to your happiness that 



Female Education. 323 

any should entertain them for you ; let me 
beg, let me most earnestly beseech you, ne- 
ver hereafter, to be, for a moment, off your 
guard against every emotion of ill-temper, 
against every inclination to bad deportment. 
But preserve throughout your whole course 
of conduct ; — in all the actions of your lives, 
the same invariable, lady-like propriety, de- 
licacy, and decorum, that you would en- 
deavour to display, if 3^011 stood before the 
whole world assembled as spectators. To 
crown all, you should continually practice 
that heavenly grace of truly christian bene- 
ficence, which is summed up in the compre- 
hensive term — charity ; and you will assured- 
ly secure to yourselves that lasting- peace and 
unutterable joy which all the power of mor- 
tal man can neither give nor take away. 

Could I possibly prevail on you, either 
by reason or persuasion, thus to act, you 
would most infallibly gain all that I have 
ventured to promise, as the rewards of so 

rational, so praise-worthy, and truly admira- 

29* 



324 Lectures on 

bie a course. Interest, duty, and honour, 
on the one hand, court your acceptance of 
the proffered boon ; while, on the other, 
shame, disgrace, contempt, and general dis- 
like, await your rejection of it. Decide wise- 
ly in regard to this alternative, and you will 
have innumerable occasions to bless the hour 
of your choice, to the latest moment of your 
lives. 



LECTURE XI. 

( Conclusion of the ivhole Course, J 

Your scholastick year will soon ter- 
minate; and the hour is fast approaching 
when many of you, on leaving school, will 
be called to enter upon a very different scene 
of action from any in which you have ever 
before been engaged : — so different indeed, 
as to require much more than a double por- 
tion of your vigilance, and self-command to 
take "that good part ," which so many anx- 
ious hearts are fondly expecting you to take. 
That you may be still better prepared for 
commencing so novel and arduous a course, 
let me endeavour once more, and for the last 
time, to place before you, some of the chief 
obstacles to be encountered in your progress ; 
and to exhort you by every consideration 
most dear to you, never to neglect the means 



226 Lectures on 

which are necessary to overcome them. To 
" keep thy heart with all diligence, since out 
of it are the issues of life," is a precept of 
holy writ which it will behoove you, more 
than ever to regard, as the all important 
means to secure that spotless fame, and puri- 
ty of reputation so essential, — so lovely, — 
so far above all price, in the female charac- 
ter. The increasing claims of this maxim 
to your attention, will result from the great 
augmentation of all those various temptations 
by which the individuals of your sex are al- 
ways surrounded; especially when they first 
enter upon that career, on their proper con- 
duct in which, their fates both here, and here- 
after, so materially depend. Against some 
of these, I confidently trust, that your sense 
ofwhatisdue to yourselves and others, and 
the diligence with which you have cultivat- 
ed it, since you have been here, will prove an 
adequate protection. But there are others, 
my young friends, against which, I greatly 
fear, you will find it extremely difficult to 
guard; because they will assail you in vari- 



Female Education, 327 

cms unsuspected shapes; and approach you 
in forms of such fascination, as to lull to rest 
all apprehensions of your own power to re- 
sist. For example, — the partiality of parent- 
al affection is one of them; and strange and 
painful as it may sound in your ears, it is 
one of the greatest. Parents who have been 
long separated from their children, — parti- 
cularly where they have warm, generous, and 
affectionate hearts, are either among the last 
people in the world, to see their children's 
faults; — or if seen, they are the most reluc- 
tant to notice them. Nothing can well inflict 
more pain, or sink deeper into the heart of a 
father or mother, than to perceive defects, 
where they expected accomplishments; to 
witness ignorance instead of knowledge ; and 
to find perhaps, not only foibles, but vices in 
the child of their bosom ; when they had, for 
months and years, been fondly calculating 
on solacing their old age, and smoothing 
their passage to the grave, by the continual 
contemplation of her virtues and perfections. 
There is no parent who deserves the name of 



328 Lectures on 

one, that does not consider such disappoint- 
ment, one of the heaviest calamities which 
can possibly befal him : and as none of us are 
disposed to court misfortune, we anxiously 
avert our eyes to the last moment we can, 
from so distressing a spectacle. A child just 
returned home from school, after a long ab- 
sence, may therefore commit many faults, 
and be guilty of numerous improprieties of 
conduct, before they will probably meet with 
parental reprehension. Would to God, my 
dear young friends, you would meditate se- 
riously on this fact, and resolutely determine 
to save your parents, and friends, from the 
painful necessity of any such reproof. 

The period immediately subsequent to 
a girl's finishings (as 'tis falsely called.) her 
education, is too often considered a season 
of extraordinary indulgence; — a season for 
displaying personal accomplishments, ra- 
ther than for exercising intellectual acquire- 
ment; — a season, — not for "refreshing the 
soul" with intellectual food, but for the gra- 



Female Education. 329 

tification of many of its silly vanities, and 
baneful passions; — a season during which, 
that moral discipline, so continually necessa- 
ry for us all, may safely be suspended, or to- 
tally neglected: — and happy will it be both 
for parents and children, if too many fooleries 
and extravagances be not permitted during 
the time, ever to regain the ground that will 
be lost by such unnecessary and highly cul- 
pable waste of the most precious period of 
life. I pray you to reflect while you can, on 
this all important subject. Prepare diligent- 
ly for the trials that await you ; and God 
grant, that you may form unalterable reso- 
lutions to increase your own vigilance to 
guard against all the evil propensities of 
which you have any consciousness, exactly 
in proportion to the affectionate confidence 
which your parents and friends appear to re- 
pose in the amiabieness of your dispositions, 
the soundness of your understandings, and 
the ardent desire which you feel, to be dis- 
tinguished for knowledge and virtue, above 
all other attainments. Let this confidence, 



330 Lectures on 

— the delightful source of so much pleasure 
to them ; — of so much honour to yourselves, 
if you do but deserve it, be to your conduct, 
what the life-blood is to your hearts. Let 
it warm, invigorate, and give permanence 
to all your good resolutions; and repa}' it, 
I most earnestly beseech you, repay it amply, 
with a full measure of continual love, grati- 
tude, deference, and obedience. This will 
prove a perennial source of mutual felicity, 
as pure as it is desirable ; and the preserva- 
tion and reaction of such sentiments between 
the parties, must assuredly be equally salu- 
tary to both. Is it not astonishing, — is it 
not most lamentable, that what the mind's 
eye so clearly discerns to be right; — that 
what we all feel in the very bottom of our 
souls, must contribute so largely to human 
happiness, as for parents and children to live 
in such a state of mutual trust, mutual affec- 
tion, and mutual effort to promote each 
others felicity, should yet be so rare ! Hea- 
ven, in the plenitude of its mercy, can be- 
stow no higher benefaction, as regards this 



Female Education. SM 

life, than to form and preserve such a union ; 
nor can God, in the fulness of his wrath, in- 
liict a much heavier curse, than to dissolve, 
or prevent it. Remember, I entreat you 
to remember, that up to the present time, the 
chief effort to perpetuate this union, has been 
on the part of those who gave you birth : 
who have nurtured you with unremitting 
care during the helplessness of infancy ; who 
have cherished your adolescence with uncea- 
sing anxiety: and who now wear you next 
their heart, as its last, best hope on this side 
the grave. Let it be your part next, to 
fulfil this hope; to prove, not only, to them, 
but to the world, how well you deserve 
their confidence and affection; and how ear- 
uestty you will devote yourselves to the 
preservation of their happiness, so far as that 
can be promoted by human means. And 
here let me add, (if it will give you any gra- 
tification.) that one of the greatest pleasures 
which I myself can experience in the down- 
hill of life, will be, frequently to hear, that 
you all have taken " this « ood part, which 

30 



332 Lectures on 

can never be taken away from you 5" and 
to reflect that your having done so, may, in 
some measure perhaps, be ascribed to the 
continual efforts made, while you were under 
our care, to form your hearts and minds for 
this great purpose of your temporal exis- 
tence. 

Another temptation of almost resistless 
malignity, to which you will be continually 
exposed, will be the corrupting influence of 
flattery. It is an opinion much too prevalent 
among our sex, that yours can live on no 
other food. Hence it happens, that from the 
moment you begin to take a part in what are 
called the gaieties and amusements of life, 
you are destined to hear little else, than the 
language of adulation. The fools and cox- 
combs among us, will address you in no other 
style; and even the men of sense will too 
often follow their example; but in a way to 
render it all the worse for vou; because the 
poison will generally be so disguised, that 
you will swallc it without being at all 



Female Education, 333 

aware of your danger. On such occasions, 
your only safety will be, immediately to call 
to your aid, if possible, enough of your 
arithmetick to deduct some three, four, or 
five hundred per cent, from each contribu- 
tion, according to its apparent extravagance. 
But if 30U can sec none in any thing which 
gentlemen usually say to you, it is proof 
positive that self-complacency has so far over- 
come your better judgment, as to bring you 
into imminent peril of becoming ridiculous 
for vanity and affectation; as well as of 
losing all those qualities which really entitle 
you to love and esteem. 

If you are so fortunate as to escape the 
dangerous effects of this early intercourse 
with society ; there is still another obstacle 
to your moral and religious improvement, 
arising from certain dispositions almost 
always found in persons at your age, which 
lead to deplorable results, if not properly 
regulated. I mean that gaiety of heart, and 
buoyancy of spirit with which our Heavenly 



334 Lectures on 

Father hath armed the young, against the 
various sorrows, distresses, and calamities of 
life. Among all the manifold instances of 
his wisdom, goodness, and mercy, there are 
none which call for our gratitude more; 
while few appear to occupy our minds less, 
as regards the great purpose for which they 
seem to have been bestowed. But for this 
inestimable blessing, few indeed, would be 
able to view our present state of existence, 
as any thing but a weary and most painful 
pilgrimage, the bare anticipation of which, 
would render most of us, not only incapable 
of the exertion necessary for the performance 
of our most indispensable duties; but would 
sink our hearts in utter despondency. Blessed 
be the God of all mercies, he has ordered it 
otherwise. But altho' such is the beneficent 
dispensation of his Providence, he certainly 
never could have designed that the youn 
portion of the human race should presume 
to live without every thing resembling serious 
reflection, merely because they had never 
experienced misfortune; or should always 



Female Education. 335 

act with the same giddy, thoughtless folly, 
which mark their wildest hours of idleness 
and dissipation. This thoughtlessness in 
regard to the future, — this most culpable 
neglect of that early preparation of heart 
so necessary to fortify us all, against the 
various afflictions incident to our nature, is 
the great errour, — nay the great sin of omis- 
sion, which you, who are just commencing 
life, are bound by every principle of reason 
and of duty, not to commit. Do not ima- 
gine that I wish you to contemplate so long, 
or intensely, the dark side of the picture of 
life, as to lose all perception or feeling of 
its multiplied beauties and blessings. No, 
God forbid. Neither would I have you 
anticipate evil in any such way, as to mar 
such of your present enjoyments as are in- 
nocent and praiseworthy. All I wish and 
all I aim at, is to convince you, that as the 
hour of trouble and sorrow must inevitably 
come for us all, the only effectual way to 
meet it as we ought to do, is to make ready 
beforehand. Pause in due season, and 

3Q* 



SoG Lectures on 

recollect, I beseech you, that although the 
Scripture hath said; "there is a time for all 
things/' to spend any portion of it in utter 
idleness, — much less in extravagance and 
dissipation, is no part of this Divine license- 
Reflect also, before it be too late, that she 
whose business is pleasure, will never find 
any pleasure in business : that useful occupa- 
tion is the duty of all : — that the lives of 
Virginia Ladies are essentially domestick : — 
that publick sentiment with us, as well as the 
soundest dictates of reason and morality for- 
bid that our wives, our daughters and our 
sisters should ever become a publick specta- 
cle and a show for idle multitudes to gaze at: 
and finally, that neither personal attractions. 
nor mental endowments of the highest order, 
will any where be so much admired and 
loved, in our state of society, as when they 
are displayed within their proper province — 
the domestick circle. It is there that the) 
improve, embellish, and endear to us, a life 
of privacy and retirement, in which alone 
the mistresses of families can have time to 



.Female Education. 337 

cultivate all those tender charities, affections, 
and amiable qualities of the heart, which 
give true loveliness, dignity, and exalted 
estimation to the female character. Would 
you become such women ; — would j'ou enjoy 
and impart such happiness, you must act in 
direct opposition to the too common opinion 
among the giddy idlers of your sex, that 
young ladies have little else to do, between 
the period of leaving school, and getting 
married, than to pay and receive visits; — 
to indulge continually in every species of 
amusement, wherein it is not positively scan- 
dalous for them to participate; and to seek 
all opportunities of placing themselves before 
the publick eye, in the piteous plight of 
the forlorn damsel, who, in their favourite 
song, is made to exclaim ; 

Ci Will nobody come to marry me ? 
Is nobody coming 1 to woo ?" 

This utter absence of all useful employ- 
ment, will, in most instances, totally unfit 
them for the lives which they must necessa- 



338 Lectures on 

rily lead after marriage: for the habits of 
the mind resemble those of the body, in the 
great difficulty with which they are changed; 
and if they happen to be such, as to require 
the excitement of continual stimuli to main- 
tain them, every fresh indulgence creates a 
new necessity for augmenting the dose, until 
both bod} 7 and soul are utterly destroyed. 

By far the greater part of our existence, 
and especially that of females, must be 
passed among the sober realities of life; in 
the discharge of its multiplied and arduous 
duties; in bearing as christians ought to 
do, its complicated difficulties and sufferings. 
But how can this possibly be done. — except 
in hopeless misery, by women who can feel 
no sensation of pleasure, unless in continual 
crowds; — who can find no amusement, but in 
idleness; nor love any other occupation but 
that of decorating their worthless persons 
with all the most costly apparel, which they 
can, by almost any means procure? Wretched 
infatuation! desperate folly! thus to make 



Female Education. 339 

the first part of our lives serve no other 
purpose, than to render miserable, the last; — 
to make no other provision for the dreary 
season of old age, than to accumulate for 
its use, a stock of unquenchable vanity and 
insatiate pride, which is destined to admin- 
ister nothing but shame and mortification to 
yourselves, and annoyance toother people; — 
and to hazard for such temporary gratifica- 
tions, as our sober reflection most painfully 
condemns, the entire loss of health, comfort, 
and respectability in this world ; and of peace, 
joy, and happiness in the next ! Do not, I 
pray you, do not run the risk of persuading 
yourselves, that I exaggerate the perils of 
such a course. Rely on it, they are full as 
great, as I represent them; while the utmost 
gain which you have any right to anticipate 
from pursuing it, cannot, bj' any possibility, 
much exceed what I have allowed that it may 
be. Whereas the advantages, the rewards, the 
exquisite pleasures of an opposite conduct, 
are just as certain as the present union of 
your souls and bodies. Fit yourselves for 



340 Lectures on 

domestick life, rather than for the empty 
pageantries of crowded assemblies; prepare 
to act the admirable part of true American 
matrons, instead of the fantastical idols, and 
frivolous play-things of equally fantastical 
and frivolous men; but above all, prepare 
to live and die like christians ; and you will 
be all that your dearest friends can rationally 
hope or expect. The grand talisman by 
which all is to be accomplished, is a com- 
pound of active piety, common sense, pru- 
dence, forbearance, and invariable good 
temper. This, like the mild effulgence of 
a vernal sun, which warms, expands, invigo- 
rates, and matures every tender blossom 
upon which it shines, will diffuse intellectual 
light, joy, and gladness throughout the 
whole range of its influence. Blessed in- 
deed, thrice blessed will that domestick circle 
be, where these are the ruling principles: 
for within its limits, — narrow as they appear 
to some, may be realized, all that this world 
affords, to make it worthy the wish of beings 
gifted with rational and immortal souls. And 



Female Education. 341 

it is there, even in such a circle, that we may 
all best prepare ourselves for that future 
state of existence, wherein our situation must 
entirely depend upon the manner in which 
we have fulfilled our various duties in the 
present life. Let it be your constant endea- 
vour then, to prepare yourselves for taking 
your proper place in this circle, as the initia- 
tory step to a far more exalted and happier 
station in another world. Let it be your 
continual study so to regulate the sentiments 
and principles which should guide and govern 
your conduct, that they may always preserve 
you in the middle course between too much 
levity and thoughtlessness, on the one hand} 
and too great a degree of inertness and des- 
pondency on the other. Both will equally 
incapacitate yon for the active and essential 
duties of life; — -both are alike repugnant to 
that Divine law which commands us " to do 
the will of our Father, on Earth, as it is in 
Heaven." 



342 Lectures on 

Very soon after leaving us, you will be 
called upon to exert all the moral qualifica- 
tions, and to apply to some useful purpose, 
all the knowledge which your parents and 
guardians placed you here, to acquire. If 
you have diligently employed your whole 
time to fulfil these hopes : if you feel 
yourselves prepared to enter upon the new 
scenes which will be opened to you, with the 
unalterable determination to act your res- 
pective parts, as well as you know how : if 
you anxiously desire opportunities to make 
some retribution for the love, affection, and 
care which your friends and relations have 
always manifested towards you ; — I shall 
have nothing farther to ask, nor to hope on 
your account, in the present life. As wards, 
you will always consult your guardians in 
regard to any material step which you may 
be about to take. As daughters, you will 
continually exert yourselves to prove by 
your conduct, that its ruling principles, — 
next to piety and the love of virtue, — are. 



Female Education. 343 

boundless gratitude to your parents, and en- 
tire devotion to their happiness. As sisters, 
you will learn, ever to bear and forbear ; — to 
return every instance of kindness and affec- 
tionate regard, with compound interest; and 
you will constantly show, that you consider 
those whom the same maternal bosom has 
nurtured during the helplessness of infancy, 
are thereby bound together by ties which 
nothing can sever, but death itself. In the. 
capacity of friends, you will demonstrate 
more by actions, than words, how deeply 
you feel, how sedulously you will practice 
all the various means by which this endear- 
ing union is to be preserved. These are, 
mutual trust, mutual confidence, mutual ten- 
derness towards each others weaknesses- — 
without a disposition to encourage them; 
and a disinterested, unceasing effort to pror 
mote each others happiness. Finally, in 
the character of wives — should you ever be- 
come such, you will never cease, while you 
live, to display and exert all the foregoing 

qualities in a highly concentrated degree : 
31 



344 Lectures on 

in addition to which, you will manifest, by 
every act of your lives, that the parties to 
this union — by far the most important and 
closest of all others, should have but one 
aim, one interest, and one heart. 

As regards society at large, you will 
never be at a loss how to act, if you fulfil 
your obligations wisely and faithfully in these 
great domestick relations. The admirable art 
to insure success, is as intelligible in theory, 
as it is easy, and delightful in practice. A 
manner, at once candid, complaisant, and 
courteous; — a conduct, kind, attentive, and 
beneficent, are the certain and infallible 
means to conciliate regard and secure es- 
teem. Take my word for it, these can 
never be gained, — no, not if the trial were 
to last forever; unless you aspire to some 
higher destiny, unless you aim at some more 
rational, more elevated honours, than to be 
applauded for your tasteful arrangement of 
mere personal decorations; or to be admired 
for the possession of mere personal attrac- 



Female Education, 345 

tions, that are almost as perishable, as the 
ephemeral flowers to which they have been 
so often, and so aptly compared. Believe 
me, my dear young friends, that to devote 
your precious time to any such paltry pur- 
pose, is to waste it in a way, of which it is 
hard to decide whether the folly or the wick- 
edness is greatest. It is repugnant alike to 
all our ideas of the nature, and destiny of 
man; — to all our notions of the wisdom, 
power, and goodness of the Almighty God 
who made him, to imagine that so large a 
portion of the species can justifiably live a 
life of such utter inutility. Resolve then, at 
once, resolve, I implore you, before the temp- 
tations to do otherwise, assail you too pow- 
erfully, that your lives shall be very different- 
ly spent. That the fulfilment of all your 
various duties, rather than the indulgence of 
youthful frivolities, follies, and vices, shall 
be your great, leading objects. Should 
these duties assume to your unpractised eyes, 
an aspect too forbidding ; should either their 
minuteness, their homely nature, or the slow 



346 Lectures on 

return of temporal rewards which we gain 
by them, discourage your efforts; exert, I 
pray you, your utmost power to call to your 
aid, every motive both of morality and reli- 
gion which can strengthen your resolution to 
perform them constantly, and faithfully. 
Recollect, that it is only by small, and often 
repeated exertions, that knowledge is accu- 
mulated, virtue acquired, and character ma- 
tured : and should the tardiness of such ac- 
quisitions, or the number of acts necessary to 
confirm your title to them, still dishearten 
you, endeavour to find consolation in the 
fact, that all the grandest and most magnifi- 
cent objects of the material world, are sub- 
ject to a similar, and irreversible law. For 
what, in their elementary principles, are all 
the great waters of the mighty ocean; the 
lofty mountains that soar to a sightless ele- 
vation above the clouds; — the immeasurable 
planets and constellations, that unceasingly 
revolve in the immensity of space; — what 
are they, but an accumulation of mere atoms, 
impalpable to the touch ; — an aggregation of 



Female Education. 347 

the minutest particles, imperceptible to the 
sight! The Omnipotent God of all, hath 
thus decreed, both for the moral, and the 
physical world; and let not that miserable 
worm — man, dare to murmur or repine, either 
at the wisdom or goodness of such dispensa- 
tion. His only duty, — his highest praise, is, 
to obey, — to adore, — and give perpetual 
thanks, with the deepest humility of heart, 
and the most cheerful acquiescence in the Di- 
vine will. In this stupendous, most admirable 
whole, it may be your distinguished part, — - 
if you choose wisely, to act as the Hea- 
venly Almoners of Divine beneficence. To 
your sex we all look, for the most refined and 
greatest pleasures of social life; — for encour- 
agement and co-operation in the discharge 
of its most important and arduous duties ; 
and for comfort, and consolation in all its 
most trying afflictions and calamities. "To 
your sex we look, to raise the standard of 
character in our own ; we look to you, to 
guard and fortify those barriers which still 
exist in society, against the encroachments 



348 Lectures on 

of impudence and licentiousness. We look 
to you for the continuance of domestick pu- 
rity, for the revival of domestick religion, for 
the increase of our charities, and the support 
of what remains of religion in our private 
habits and publick institutions." And firmly 
do we believe, "that if Christianity should 
ever be compelled to flee from the mansions 
of the great, the academies of philosophers, 
the halls of legislators, or the throng of 
busy men, we should find her last and purest 
retreat with women at the fire-side; her last 
altar would be the female heart; her last au- 
dience would be the children gathered round 
the knees of a mother; — her last sacrifice, 
the secret prayer, escaping, in solitude, from 
her lips, and heard perhaps, only at the 
throne of God. " 

Before I conclude, as this is the last 
opportunity I shall ever have, of addressing 
several who now hear me, permit me to as- 
sure you, that, in the long period during 
which many of you have been members of 



Female Education. 349 

our family, if, on any occasion, we have evnr 
wounded your feelings, either by word, or 
deed, we are sincerely sorry for it ; and it 
has been done with the most heart-felt reluc- 
tance. Nothing is more difficult, than for 
persons who stand towards others in the re- 
lation of pupils, to appreciate justly, the mo- 
tives and conduct of those w ho exercise au- 
thority over them. No errour is oftener com- 
mitted by them, than to confound friendly ad- 
vice, with supererogatory care; and neces- 
sary reproof, with unmerited severity. If 
any of you have ever made this mistake in 
regard to us, let me solemnly repeat the 
assurance, that you can have suffered no pain 
on this account, in which we have not large- 
ly participated. In the connexion which has 
so long subsisted between us, no circumstance 
has ever distressed us more, than when duty 
has extorted from us, the language of cen- 
sure and reproof; while none have given us 
higher gratification, than when we could 
justly address with expressions of encourage- 



350 Lectures on 

ment and applause. Your good has been 
our continual aim; your happiness, the ob- 
ject, always nearest our heart, in every thing 
which we have, either said, or done, on your 
account. The time will assuredly come, — 
if it has not already, when you will feel this 
more sensibly, than perhaps, you now do. 
You also, may have the care of others; — 
you also, may have to behold the painful 
spectacle of the immature qualities of the 
mind and heart in danger of taking a fatal 
direction ; and threatening to bring upon all 
concerned, the countless miseries of such a 
calamitous developement. Should such, ever 
be your unfortunate lot,-— then you will re- 
member, then you will feel in your inmost 
soul, all that you have heard and read with 
us, in regard to the inestimable value of the 
earliest possible instruction in religion and 
morals : and you will then thoroughly under- 
stand the imperative, unbending nature of 
the obligation by which all instructors are 
bound, never to spare either admonition, or 



Female Education. 351 

reproof, when either appears necessary ; and 
never to gratify or give way to the passions 
of their pupils, at the perilous expense of 
their understandings and principles. 

And now, my children, — for such I must 
consider you, until we finally restore you to 
those who confided you to our care, — my 
work is done; and the task which I had 
prescribed to myself,' with the anxious hope 
of rendering you some essential service, 
is, at length, accomplished. If I have 
been fortunate enough to succeed in my 
wishes, I shall have impressed this momen- 
tous truth, indelibly on your minds, and 
fixed it deeply in your hearts; — that the sum 
and substance of all useful knowledge, is, 
to know how to live, and how to die; — the 
essence and perfection of all real duty, to 
put this knowledge into practice, whenever 
required. That you may be enabled to do 
this, should be your first prayer every morn- 
ing, and your last at night; nor need you 



352 Lectures on Female Education. 

ever despair of its being granted, if you will 
always utter it "in spirit and in truth." 

All that remains, is, to bid you farewell, 
and to implore the Omnipotent Author of 
"every good and perfect gift," — as I do, 
with the most earnest sincerity of heart, to 
guide and protect you through all time; — 
to bless and preserve you to all eternity. 

Elm- Wood, Essex County, Virginia. 



END OF THE LECTURES. 



.. .. T 



®®©§iiip'© mAsturAiLo 



INTRODUCTION 



TO THE 



GOSSIP'S MANUAL. 



The propensity to that practice called 
in common parlance " Gossipping," being 
deemed by most philosophers coeval with 
the earliest proofs which we give of intelli- 
gence and reason ; the Author of the follow- 
ing Maxims conceived that he might confer 
a publick benefit, by giving some plain and 
concise directions for its most speedy devel- 
opement. With this view he has endeavoured 
to imbody in a few short, and easy Maxims, 
all which he thinks necessary to enable youth- 
ful aspirants of only ordinary capacity, very 
rapidly to acquire great proficiency in this 
most natural and delectable mental exercise. 



358 Introduction. 

And he hesitates not to say, that any young 
lady or gentleman, — however inexperienced, 
who will so far commit them to memory, as 
to have them always ready in their mind on 
suitable occasions, may at once assume equal 
rank with the most approved Gossips of the 
land. If it be inquired how the Author him- 
self obtained them? Let it suffice to say, 
that they are the well earned fruit of thirty 
or forty years close, and delighted attention 
to the practice of some of the greatest mas- 
ters and mistresses of the Gossipping art, 
which this, or any other country probably 
ever produced. 



THE 



MAXIM I. 

It should never tor a moment be forgot- 
ten, that the first principle, and very cor- 
ner-stone of the Gossip's Manual, is to keep 
alive the fire of conversation. To do this, 
the same means should unceasingly be used, 
as to keep alive the natural element called 
fire; — that is, by continually adding fresh 
materials to sustain it. Horace's directions 
for making a good, comfortable fire ; — " Lig- 
num super foco large reponens," will answer 
equally well in a metaphorical sense for 
making a good, comfortable, gossipping con- 
fabulation. 
32* 



360 Gossip's Manual. 

MAXIM II, 

Serves still farther to illustrate this ana- 
logy. For as one of the principal uses of the 
element — Fire, is to give, when cold predo- 
minates, due warmth and heat to the body ; 
so the great function of the fire of conversa- 
tion, is to excite in the mind a sufficient degree 
of action to counteract the effect of a too lan- 
guid temperament; and to produce that de- 
gree of effervescense in the animal spirits, 
which is absolutely essential to mental health. 
To accomplish this, continual practice is ab- 
solutely necessary; so that if the Gossip 
feels the slightest degree of that laudable 
ambition to excel so prevalent among the 
members of her society, she must talk to 
herself, if she can find no other auditor. 

MAXIM III. 

There is one talent essential to the per- 
fection of the Gossip's character, which if not 



Gossip's Manual* 361 

equally incommunicable with genius itself, 
is certainly one of the most difficult, as well 
as useful to attain. It is the art of appearing 
equally interested, equally busy in regard to 
what ordinary thinkers deem the most trivial 
things in nature, as you are with the most im- 
portant. For example, if Mrs. such-a-one's 
cat had killed her canary bird, it will furnish a 
Gossip thus naturally gifted, with as much 
chit chat, as if Mr. such-a-one's wife had lost 
her favourite child by some horrible death. 
The only rule is # that whatever it be 
which the spirit moves you to talk about, be 
sure to speak fast; — to speak loud; — to use 
as much gesticulation, as you can possibly 
practise ; and at the same time to petition with 
your eyes for as many listeners as there is the 
most distant chance of attracting. 



MAXIM IV. 

Whatever may be the subject of con- 
versation, never wait until others have done, 



362 Gossip's Manual. 

before you begin to speak ; for there are two 
material objections to such an unusual prac- 
tice. The first and most important is, that 
it may never come to 3 T our turn to speak at 
all. And the second is, that unless you not 
only speak when others do, but as emphati- 
cally loud, as vehemently earnest, and with 
as rapid an utterance, as nature enables you, 
— taking care at the same time, if any thing 
like argument is going on, to shift your bat- 
tery continually; you will certainly be 
thought to take no interest either in the com- 
pany or conversation of your associates. 

MAXIM V. 

Set it down as a cardinal point, always 
to make your neighbour's failings or vices 
the topick of conversation, rather than their 
good qualities or virtues. Take it for granted 
too, that their affairs are generally more 
interesting, and of course, more an object 



Gossip's Manual. 363 

of your concern, than your own. You are 
but one; your neighbours and acquaintance, 
comparatively speaking, constitute a multi- 
tude. From these two centres, the radii of 
chit chat are so numerous, that the presence 
of a single, thorough-going Gossip, — or only 
two or three amateurs, will always prove an 
effectual bar to that most appalling thing, — 
a dead-silence in a full company. 

MAXIM VI. 

The good qualities of your friends af- 
fording but a very limited, tame, and sleepy 
kind of exercise for the discursive faculty, 
never volunteer to speak of them yourself, 
nor encourage the conversation in others, be- 
yond a monosyllabic assent: the true max- 
im in such an unpleasant predicament re- 
quiring, that we should neither give, nor 
follow any lead, but such as may excite all 
tongues to let loose upon it at once. In the 



364 Gossip's Manual. 

first case, the same rule of decorum and 
good breeding applies, as governs at a feast, 
which is; — "never to choose any of a prof- 
fered dish that appears to be scarce." 

MAXIM VII. 

As the practice of speaking well of a 
friend or acquaintance, or suffering others to 
do it, without adding a great many qualifying 
circumstances, is altogether without prece- 
dent in your reporters, you must studiously 
avoid being the first to violate a law in re- 
gard to the antiquity of which we may 
truly say, (as of the common law,) "that 
the memory of man runneth not to the con- 
trary." This violation too would be the 
more inexcusable, when it is so easy to throw 
in a damper to the applause, in the ready 
form of some such inuendo as the follow- 
ing; — "If you had heard all that / have, 
you would not think so highly of this per- 



Gossip's Manual, SGb 

son." Or else "what think you of such and 
such faults and vices" — (here name some 
of the worst you can think of,) " Suppose I 
could satisfy you, that your favourite was 
guilty of either of these; — what would you 
say then? But /say no more. It is my rule 
never to speak ill of people behind their 
backs." 

— ^©©— 

MAXIM VIII. 

Is an individual to be made an object 
of derision, contempt, or hatred, never com- 
mence with open, direct attacks supported by 
a plain narrative of facts : your oblique hint 
by way of aperient for the auditory organs, 
is your true recipe. Our curiosity being first 
awakened by obscure inuendoes, pride of 
opinion, uniting with the love of what moral- 
ists call "defamation," has the best possible 
opportunity for gratification by guessing 
even worse, than the reality. In this mode 



366 Gossip's Manual, 

the useful work is more than half accom- 
plished without the irksome labour of detail- 
ing particulars, which — besides the inconve- 
nience of requiring rather a closer adherence 
to truth, produces that delay in accomplish- 
ing the object of demolition, which like " hope 
deferred, maketh the heart sick." 

— ^©®— 
MAXIM IX, 

The lie direct is quite too clumsy, and 
ill-contrived a thing to be at all admissible 
among Gossips who have any pretensions to 
high standing; but the indirect falsehood, 
and by implication, on suitable occasions, is 
highly essential to the maintenance of their 
proper rank. Indeed, with a little manage- 
ment, they may by this ingenious, but simple 
method, soon make nearly as many inroads 
upon the best fortified characters, as there 
can be changes rung upon a full set of bells. 
This is the theory :— the rule of practise is ; 



Gossips Manual, iiG7 

"take care always to have at least some 
colour of truth in what you say," 



MAXIM X. 

Never suffer a good tale of scandal to 
die in your hands, but pass it to your next 
neighbour with the rapidity of an expert 
hand going through the manual exercise ; as 
children do the burning straw in their play 
of" Robin's alive, and alive like to be," &c. 
This gives all the necessary interest, and vi- 
vacity to a game which otherwise might soon 
become, (as Hamlet says of the uses of this 
world,) "weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable." 

MAXIM XI. 

As the chief use and value of friend- 
ship, is to cv.re faults, the readiest way t© 

33 



368 Gossip's Manual. 

prove that you are capable of it, is to be as 
lynx-eyed in discerning, and as free-tongued 
in exposing, as you possibly can, the faults 
of those persons in particular, for whom you 
profess to entertain this sentiment. The ex- 
posure too, should be made with all the as- 
perity you are able to exert, blended with 
as many honeyed expressions of regard and 
affection as you can conveniently crowd in ; 
on the same principle, that doctors mix sirup 
with their most nauseous medicine, and 
envelope their bitterest pills in something 
sweet to the taste. We all believe that we 
are indebted to the bitter principle of the Je- 
suit's bark for the cure of some of the most 
malignant diseases of the body: And by ana- 
logy, why should not the bitter principle of 
the tongue be the true panacea for subduing 
some of the most malignant diseases of the 
mind? 



Gossip's Manual. 3G9 

MAXIM XII. 

Much of our bodily comforts being de- 
rived from the culinary art, the savoury and 
exhaustless topick of our neighbour's cook- 
ery, as well as the quality, and quantity of 
what they cook, should be considered as 
much a standard topick of your conversation, 
as bacon and greens are a standard dish at 
every substantial, Virginia farmer's table. 
But since bad cooking is much more com- 
mon than good, and the evils arising from 
the first, far over-balance the benefits result- 
ing from the last, we should always prefer 
descanting upon the former, rather than the 
latter. This produces the double advantage 
of reformation in others; and of making 
strangers believe, that we ourselves must cer- 
tainly be exempt from the faults which we so 
sharply censure in other people. 



MAXIM XIII. 

Should fashion, business, or company 
lead you to the house of God, instead of lis- 



370 Gossijy's Manual. 

tening to what you have heard a thousand 
times before, recollect that your chief pur- 
pose there, is, " to see, and to be seen." Be 
sure then, after a proper display of your own 
person, to occupy yourself in watching the 
improprieties of conduct in all you find 
there, — but especially of your particular 
friends and acquaintance. And by no means 
neglect to notice every thing in their dress, — 
even down to the most minute article, which 
can form an adequate object of critical analy- 
sis. These will infallibly furnish an ample 
fund for table-talk during a Sunday's dinner, 
and a suitable accompaniment for tea and 
coffee, before evening prayer. 

MAXIM XIV. 

The spiritual concerns of your neigh- 
bours and friends, being much more nume- 
rous, extensive, and complicated than your 
own ; to make them the most frequent topicks 
of your conversation, shows both charity and 
disinterestedness. 



Gossip's Manual. 371 

MAXIM XV. 

To censure with acrimony, the religious 
opinions of those who differ from you, and 
to arraign their motives, is the shortest, and 
most publick method of proving how deeply 
you are concerned for their eternal welfare. 

— ©^©— 

MAXIM XVI. 

Take care always to have at least as 
much religion in profession, as you want in 
practice; since it is a wonderful help, — indeed 
the "sine qua non" of the Gossip's trade to 
appear to be actuated by the best possible 
motives which can influence the human heart; 
for your hard-judging people are very apt 
not unfrequently to impute their conduct to 
the worst. Should you be compelled in as- 
suming this appearance, to be the trumpeter 
of your own praise, — so much the better; 
as that merit must be unquestionable which 



372 Gossip's Manual. 

has so much internal strength as to burst 
through all the ordinary restraints of natural 
modesty and humility to find utterance 
through our own lips. 

MAXIM XVII. 

The vanity and egotism of the Gossip 
having this property in common with brisk- 
bottled cider, or small beer, that they both 
endanger the safety of the containing vessel, 
unless unstopped before bursting ; you should 
take special care never to suffer them to ef- 
fervesce too long, without giving them vent. 
This always gives immediate, and marvellous 
relief; until another accumulation of these 
very subtle and expansive gases takes place, 
when the same remedy must be repeated. 

— @*©o— 
MAXIM XVIII. 

Has any unpleasant or painful occur- 
rence happened within the circle of your in- 
timate acquaintance and connexions, instead 



Gossip's Manual. a7$ 

of vainly endeavouring, like some silly, mis- 
calculating people, to confine the knowledge 
of it to the immediate and only witnesses, — 
especially, when no duty urges the disclo- 
sure; hasten, as if you were running from 
the pestilence, to relate it to the first friend 
you meet, lest some one more alert and less 
retentive, should get the start of you. This 
ranks you at once very high in the scale of 
his or her friendship : because to repose con- 
fidence in another, respecting those things 
usually called secrets, particularly where 
they concern other people, being one of the 
greatest proofs of tender regard ; the indivi- 
dual first put in possession of the fact, through 
your kindness, will not fail to give you all 
the credit you could wish for so judicious 
a choice of a confidant. You should b}' no 
means neglect to throw in, en passant, such 
interesting embellishments as occur to you on 
the spur of the occasion; because it being 
no less a physical law of rumour, than it is 
of a snow-ball, to gather as it rolls along ; 
the neglect to add your part, as it goes 



374 Gossip's Manual. 

through your hands, would evince a defi- 
ciency in moral duty, as much as the refusal 
to contribute to an object of great publick 
utility, would show a want of patriotism. 
To repeat nothing without necessity, which 
can give needless pain to others^ is the maxim 
of your ultra-cautious people. To relate all, 
whether agreeable, or the reverse, — taking 
care always to do it in strict confidence, is an 
essential part of the true illustration, and de- 
velopement of the social compact. Another 
incalculable advantage in this procedure is, 
that in addition to your own sympathy with 
the sufferers, you and your assistant circula- 
tors of the interesting intelligence, (if you 
are all as active as the nature of the case re- 
quires,) will certainly enlist many efficient 
auxiliaries, whose united sympathies, — like 
the dispensing power of the Roman Catholick 
Priesthood, will not only greatly alleviate 
the mental disquietude of the parties imme- 
diately concerned ; but may remove all the 
culpability of the act, or acts, which may 
have been committed. 



Crosses Manual. 37 5 



MAXIM XIX. 

Whereas the rural life of Virginians is 
characterised by such a wearisome same- 
ness; — by such a hum-drum, as it were state 
of existence; that topicks possessing much 
degree of interest very rarely occur, if mat- 
ters are left to go on in the usual way, — 
with much eating and drinking on the one 
hand, and but little work on the other; 
let it be the true Gossip's special duty and 
business to provide against a calm so perni- 
cious at once to health, spirits, and comfort* 
To effect this, nothing more is necessary, 
than to inform each neighbour, under the 
strictest injunction of secrecy, that all the 
rest dislike, and slander them. It is an hun- 
dred to one, when the affair is thus manag- 
ed, that the secret may go round for half the 
year, before all become so well acquainted 
with it, as to render full explanations no 
longer avoidable. It will then turn out, 
that all was a mistake; all was told through 



376 Gossip's Manual. 

pure friendship ; no body will be to blame; 
and all will like each other the better from 
having been kept so long, and so busily en- 
gaged with the fancied injustice of others, as 
to be saved from those horrible bores to a 
country^life — .silence, and self-communion. 

—^©©— 

MAXIM XX, 

Literary topicks of conversation, (novels 
always excepted,) you should studiously 
avoid, as certain to expose you, either to the 
censure of insufferable pedantry; or to the 
suspicion of designedly talking about things 
which none of your associates, either expect, 
or wish you to understand. 

MAXIM XXI. 

Matrimony is a subject for gossipping, — - 
almost exhaustless : for there are not only 
the multitude of particulars which render 
marriages happy, or unhappy, to descant 



Gossip's Manual. 377 

upon ; but a boundless field for exercising 
the spirit of prophesy in regard to the prob- 
able result of any one union about to take 
place within the circle of your acquaintance. 
According as the benevolent or misanthro- 
pick fit may be upon you, the parties may be 
portrayed as near perfection as possible ; 
or as remote from it. You may represent 
the lady's beauty or deformity incompara- 
ble ; — her understanding matchless, or like 
the sheriff's return, "non est inventus;" — 
her fortune immense, or that she is not worth 
a cent beyond the clothes on her back; — and 
her temper, as like the land of promise — all 
milk and honey; — or like a steam-engine 
of high-pressure power — always in danger 
of bursting, when it boils. As for the 
gentleman, you may make him out just 
what you please, — one of the best possible 
matches, or one of the worst, — as you hap- 
pen to like or dislike him. Nor must you 
quit them after their marriage ; for then 
come on all the various, and important par- 
ticulars of their house-keeping, and domes- 



378 Gossip's Manual. 

tick management 5 — all the minutiae of their 
private quarrels and reconciliations, from 
the obloquy and hard names mutually inter- 
changed, to the tears and kisses of repent- 
ance and forgiveness, with all the protesta- 
tions of future amity, and eternal affection. 
Nor should even our stern, unrelenting ene- 
my — death himself be suffered to rescue the 
parties from your power; unless indeed, he 
should sweep them both off together, which 
rarely happens. If either should survive, 
(no matter which,) it then becomes your bu- 
siness, immediately to dispatch him, or her, 
according as it may be husband or wife, in 
search of another spouse. As to the time 
after the death of the deceased party, for set- 
ting the report a-going, take the recipe for 
cooking a beef-steak, of — " let it be done 
quickly," as your invariable rule. For if 
you postpone it until the usual period for 
seeking these second alliances, no indecorum, 
no violation of publick sentiment will appear 
to be committed, and of course you irrevo- 
cably lose all chance of attaching scandal 



Gossip's Manual. 379 

to the candidate for wedlock, who might have 
been greatly injured in general estimation, 
if you had not been too lazy to begin with 
them in due season. 

— &&Q — 

MAXIM XXII. 

Have you any friends or neighbours so 
fond of still life, as never to quarrel, or even 
get vexed with you, be sure to take some oc- 
casion of acting in such a manner, as to ex- 
cite their suspicion, that you have taken 
some offence at them. The less cause they 
have given you, the more will be their won- 
der, and the greater of course, will be their 
excitement. These two causes co-operating, 
will produce a degree of ebullition, or rather 
attrition of the animal spirits, than which 
nothing can well be more productive of 
health to such phlegmatick constitutions. In 
this way you do them great service, — as it 
were in spite of their teeth: after the man- 
ner of a certain doctor who is said to have 
34 



380 Gossip's Manual. 

once cured a gouty patient by locking him 
up in a room, the floor of which was so heat- 
ed, that he was compelled to dance and hop 
about with great exertion to avoid burning 
his feet. As no explanations will probably 
ever be asked ; when you think the stimuli 
have been applied long enough to give the 
necessary healthful circulation to the blood; 
you have only once more to assume your 
May-day looks, and all will go on as smooth- 
ly, and pleasantly, as ever. 



MAXIM XXIII. 

Is a neighbour, acquaintance, but espe- 
cially a friend, reported to be embarrassed 
in his circumstances, let it be your special 
care to prevent the publick from underrating 
his misfortune, lest you deprive him of their 
very salutary pity. Speak of his debts in 
general, as too numerous, and considerable 
to be, either reckoned or paid ; and upon 
each particular one, never fail to lay on a 



Gossip's Manual. 3S1 

large per centage of gratuitous commisera- 
tion. You will thus have hard luck, if you 
do not soon realize to him, a situation which 
might have been in a great measure imagin- 
ary. For by prostrating his credit, you 
bring on law-suits ; increase his embarrass- 
ments an hundred fold; and make it impos- 
sible to get through difficulties, which but 
for your garrulous humanity, might easily 
have been removed. This secures a perpe- 
tual theme for the exercise of all that sym- 
pathy, and benevolent feeling which fall so 
largely to the true Gossip's share; and for 
the constant excitement of which, it is their 
peculiar duty, at every hazard to provide. 
If the man himself, (in the case supposed) 
happen to die in jail, you will still, generally 
have the wife left, — unless she should be fool 
enough to break her heart, besides some six — 
eight — ten — or twelve destitute children, to 
lament over and deplore, 



382 Gossip's Manual. 

MAXIM XXIV. 

Should you scent out what is called " a 
great secret" any where within your reach, 
never rest day nor night, until you get pos- 
session of it; even at the hazard of question- 
ing, cross-examining, and pumping the leak) 7 
members of the family where the secret lies, 
as well as the house-servants. If vou can 
once establish the character of knowing every 
body's private concerns,- — and this continual 
prying into them, will give the best possible 
chance of doing so, you will be thought free 
from all manner of trouble with your own 
affairs; and will moreover be esteemed a 
universal friend: since nothing short of the 
most diffusive philanthropy can keep any 
person constantly busy in regard to matters 
in which none but themselves can see, or even 
imagine how they can feel any interest. 



Gossip's Manual, 383 

MAXIM XXV. 

If it be your happy destiny to be the 
first proprietor of a tale of intrigue, either 
real, or only suspected, your fortune will be 
made for a considerable time. For the de- 
corums of society forbidding,- — especially to 
ladies, much broad talking on such delicate 
subjects, the whole business of propagating 
the interesting secret is to be carried on by 
vague hints, and significant whispers, in 
which more is meant than meets the ear. 
These on such suitable occasions, are the life 
and soul of genuine gossipping : as they not 
only confine the inestimable ownership of a 
tale much longer to the original proprietor, — 
while all the rest of the pack of Gossips are 
as busy in search of it, as so many fine spir- 
ited dogs after a lost fox; but in this way 
it is made (as the weavers say) to run many 
more yards to the pound, than it possibly 
could do by any other management. In 

such a case as this, you will be peculiarly 

34* 



384 Gossip's Manual. 

unfortunate, if you do not have many fine 
subjects of commiseration ; for if the fami- 
lies be old ones, by taking in both sides, 
and counting down to fiftieth cousins, you 
may very often embrace some hundreds of 
objects of your tenderest pity and compas- 
sion. As to the guilty individuals, — after 
the affair is no longer a secret, they, of 
course, are always to be spoken of with un- 
cjualified abhorrence, and clamorous detes- 
tation. For although scripture says; — 
"Judge not, lest ye be judged;" — Sensi- 
bility, and your roaring lion- — self-proclaim- 
ed virtue tell us, that unless we are quite 
furious upon such topicks, we ourselves may 
not be thought sufficiently zealous against 
such atrocities. 

MAXIM XXYI. 

Although a nicely barbecued charac- 
ter be a much more delectable repast to 



Gossip's Manual. 385 

your genuine Gossip, than a nicely barbe- 
cued pig, the same rule of cookery will 
answer equally well for both; — this is;— » 
"turn it often, and salt it, and pepper it, 
and baste it well with the most pungent, 
and appetite-provoking sauce, that your 
stock of materials will enable you to com- 
pound." Then serve it up "hot and hot," 
to your guests, and you will have done all 
that the master or mistress of a feast could 
be expected to do on so festive an occasion. 



MAXIM XXVII. 

Never for a moment forget, that in re- 
gard to every species of defamation, your 
true Gossip is an omnivorous animal, and 
consequent^, that if nature has not blessed 
you with an imagination capable of adorning 
any slanderous tale with all the higher em- 
bellishments of which it is susceptible, you 
may venture to repeat it- to your associates" 



$86 Gossip's Manual. 

in the plainest, most naked manner possible, 
for there are many who appear to think of 
these matters as the poet Thomson did of 
beauty; — that they are, — 

" When unadorn'd, adorn'd the most." 



MAXIM XXVIII, 

As the constant profession at least, of 
the most unqualified candour, is one of the 
principal links in the sympathetick chain 
which indissolubly binds the whole brother- 
hood and sisterhood of Gossips together, so 
shall the maxim which enjoins and illustrates 
its use, be the connecting ligament which 
binds together all the preceding maxims. 
The enunciation of this cardinal virtue in 
the Gossip's Manual consists in such declara- 
tions as the following: — "I always speak 
my mind." — "/always say what / think." — 
"Truth may be blamed, but it cannot be 
shamed." — "Truth should be spoken at all 



Gossip's Manual* 387 

times" — "/ can practice no disguises, even 
if the Devil himself stands at the door:"—- 
with various other similar averments equally 
just and edifying. — Hence it follows, as a 
necessary corollary, that the greater the mis- 
chief likely to be done by the exercise of this 
inflexible candour, the stronger is the proof 
that this very salutary virtue has been exer- 
cised in its highest perfection ; and the more 
have the dignity, firmness and consistency of 
the Gossip's character been displayed and 
confirmed. Hence too, it follows, as another 
consequence not less important, that the 
true function of the finished Gossip's can- 
dour, is to make mischief, rather than peace; 
and the plain reason why it should be so, is, 
because the first alone secures that agitation, 
and ferment of the animal spirits so neces- 
sary both to bodily and intellectual vigour, 
and so permanently maintained by the per- 
petual talk, bustle, and delightful alternation 
of quarrelling and peace-making. On the 
other hand, a state of eternal peace in all the 
various domestick relations of society, which 



388 Gossip's Manual. 

might exist, but for the indefatigable bene- 
volence of these truly philanthropick peo- 
ple — the Gossips, would unavoidably super- 
induce such a death-like repose of the spir- 
its, the body, and the soul, as would en- 
danger the burying of all in one universal, 
uninterrupted, stupifying, and profound si- 
lence. 



MAXIM XXIX. 

Lastly, let all Gossips with short memo- 
ries, (if such an anomaly can possibly exist,) 
take the following admirable summary of 
practical Christianity, by St. Paul, as their 
constant rule of conduct; — "Finally what- 
soever things are true, whatsoever things 
are honest, whatsoever things are just, what- 
soever things are pure, whatsoever things 
are lovely, whatsoever things are of good 
report: — if there be any virtue, and if there 
5e any praise, think on these things. 1 ' But I 



Gossip's Manual. 389 

give it to them with this special caution, that 
they must take care to use it invariably, as 
they would a guide-board in travelling, where 
the index-Acme? points out the way they 
should go; while the hand-writing points to 
the opposite course. These Gossips, like the 
Philippians, must consider themselves, as 
equally enjoined "to think on these things;" 
but their purpose in thinking of them, if 
they would reach the highest attainable rank 
in their profession, must be to avoid, and 
not to perform them. 



THE END. 



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